Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

From Imakoopedia

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (abbreviated: F.Y.R.O.M.) is a landlocked country in the Balkans, in Eastern Europe. It has Serbia and Montenegro to the north,Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, and Greece to the south, and is often known simply as Macedonia, despite the objections of the neighboring greeks who have their own Macedonia just across the border. The country controls a major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to the Aegean Sea and Southern Europe.

Table of contents

1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Climate 4.2 Terrain 4.3 History 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By train 5.3 By car 5.4 By bus 5.5 By boat 6 Get around 7 Talk 8 Buy 9 Eat 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact 18 External links 19 Geography 20 People 21 Government 22 Economy 23 Communications 24 Transportation 25 Military 26 Transnational Issues

Regions

Cities

• Skopje - Capital
• Ohrid - lakeside resort, very popular with Balkan holiday-makers

Administrative divisions 

123 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aracinovo, Bac, Belcista, Berovo, Bistrica, Bitola, Blatec, Bogdanci, Bogomila, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Cair (Skopje), Capari, Caska, Cegrane, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Delcevo, Delogozdi, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dobrusevo, Dolna Banjica, Dolneni, Dorce Petrov (Skopje), Drugovo, Dzepciste, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Izvor, Jegunovce, Kamenjane, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Klecevce, Kocani, Konce, Kondovo, Konopiste, Kosel, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kuklis, Kukurecani, Kumanovo, Labunista, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Lukovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovi Anovi, Meseista, Miravci, Mogila, Murtino, Negotino, Negotino-Polosko, Novaci, Novo Selo, Oblesevo, Ohrid, Orasac, Orizari, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Podares, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Rostusa, Samokov, Saraj, Sipkovica, Sopiste, Sopotnica, Srbinovo, Star Dojran, Staravina, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Topolcani, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Velesta, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vitoliste, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Vratnica, Vrutok, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zeleno, Zitose, Zletovo, Zrnovci
note: the seven municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute "greater Skopje"

Other destinations

Understand

Climate

Warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall

Terrain

Mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Natural hazards 

high seismic risks

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m

History

International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, despite continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s use of "Macedonia." F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian minority, an ethnic Albanian armed insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in 2001, and the status of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.

Independence 

8 September 1991 referendum by registered voters endorsing independence (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday 

Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and Ilinden

Constitution 

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
note: the Macedonian Parliament approved November 2001 a series of new constitutional amendments, strengthening minority rights

Get in

By plane

By train

By car

Be sure your Green Card (International Insurance Card) has an uncancelled "MK" box. Try to get a good map of Macedonia and/or try to be able to read Cyrillic letters. Although most street signs are printed in Cyrillic and Latin letters it can be helpful to have a little knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet, especially in small towns.

By bus

By boat

Get around

If travelling by car, be sure your tyres are good enough. Especially in spring and autumn weather in the mountains (Lake Ohrid/Ohrid, Bitola) can differ significantly from the weather in the areas you're coming from.

Talk

Languages 

Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Learn

Work

Stay safe

Stay healthy

Respect

Contact

External links

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Geography

Geographic coordinates 

41 50 N, 22 00 E

Area 

total: 25,333 sq km
water: 477 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km

Area - comparative 

slightly larger than Vermont

Natural resources 

chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore, asbestos, sulfur, timber, arable land

Land use 

arable land: 23.59%
permanent crops: 1.85%
other: 74.56% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

550 sq km (1998 est.)

Environment - current issues 

air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements 

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population 

2,054,800

Nationality 

noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups 

Macedonian 66.6%, Albanian 22.7%, Turkish 4%, Roma 2.2%, Serb 2.1%, other 2.4% (1994)

Religions 

Macedonian Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%, other 3%

Government

Country name 

conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
abbreviation: F.Y.R.O.M.
local short form: Makedonija

Legal system 

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Judicial branch 

Supreme Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Constitutional Court - Parliament appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council - Parliament appoints the judges

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV
chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence Edward BUTLER
embassy: bul. Ilinden bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] (02) 116-180
FAX: [389] (02) 117-103

Flag description 

a rising yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges of the red field

Economy

Economy - overview 

At independence in November 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on Yugoslavia, one of its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.6% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth recovered moderately in 2002 but unemployment at one-third of the workforce remained a critical problem.

Industries 

coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco, food processing, buses

Agriculture - products 

rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Exports - commodities 

food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Imports - commodities 

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products

Currency 

Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code 

MKD

Exchange rates 

Macedonian denars per US dollar - 64.757 (January 2001), 65.904 (2000), 56.902 (1999), 54.462 (1998), 50.004 (1997)

Fiscal year 

calendar year

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

408,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

12,362 (1997)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios 

410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions 

510,000 (1997)

Internet country code 

.mk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

6 (2000)

Internet users 

100,000 (2001)

Transportation

Railways 

total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified)
note: a 56-km extension of the Kumanovo-Beljakovce line to the Bulgarian border at Gyueshevo is under construction (2001)

Highways 

total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1997)

Waterways 

note: lake transport only, on the Greek and Albanian borders

Airports 

17 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)

Military

Military branches 

Army (ARM), Air and Air Defense Forces, Police Force

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

dispute with Greece over country's name persists; 2001 FYROM-Yugoslavia boundary delimitation agreement, which adjusts former republic boundaries, was signed and ratified and awaits demarcation; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo dispute legitimacy of the agreement, which cedes small tracts of Kosovo lands to FYROM

Illicit drugs 

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; while money laundering is a problem on a local level due to organized crime activities, the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center