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World > Europe > Macedonia
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Macedonia |
Introduction:
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Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of 'the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.' In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue. Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement, and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia.
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| Official name: |
Republic of Macedonia |
| Capital: |
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
| Government type: |
parliamentary democracy |
| Population: |
2,055,915 (July 2007 est.) |
| Languages: |
Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census) |
| Official Currency: |
MKD |
| Currency code: |
MKD |
| Area: |
total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km |
| Climate: |
warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall |
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Map of Macedonia
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