The Macedonian Presidency began after the Macedonian declaration of independence on September 18, 1991, and its first president was Kiro Gligorov, the oldest president in the world up until his resignation as president in 1999. ... Missing image Image:.jpg Branko Crvenkovski in Macedonian Бранко Црвенковски is the President of the Republic of Macedonia. ... List of Prime Ministers of the Republic of Macedonia See also President of the Republic of Macedonia Categories: | ... Nikola Gruevski was the Minister of Finance in the VMRO-DPMNE government led by Ljubco Georgievski until September 2002. ... The Parliament of the Macedonia, the Assembly (Sobranie), has 120 members, elected for a four year term, by proportional representation. ... Political parties in the Republic of Macedonia¤ lists political parties in the Republic of Macedonia. ... Elections in the Republic of Macedonia gives information on election and election results in the Republic of Macedonia. ... Presidential elections were held in the Republic of Macedonia in two phases during April 2004. ... The parliamentary election, 2006 in the Republic of Macedonia was held on 5 July 2006. ... The municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia are first-order administrative divisions. ... The Republic of Macedonia is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights and the U.N. Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and Convention against Torture, and the Macedonian Constitution guarantees basic human rights to all Macedonian citizens. ... The existence and distinctiveness of the Macedonian language is disputed among the politicians, linguists and common people from Macedonia and neighboring countries. ... Official logo of the process for European integration of Republic of Macedonia The membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union is the highest strategic interest and priority for the Republic of Macedonia, referred to by the European Union (EU) as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM... // The Republic of Macedonia became a member state of the United Nations on April 8, 1993, eighteen months after its independence from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ...

International recognition

The Republic of Macedonia became a member state of the United Nations on April 8, 1993, eighteen months after its independence from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is referred within the UN as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" or "FYROM", pending a resolution, to the long-running dispute about the country's name. Other international bodies, such as the European Union ^[1], European Broadcasting Union ^[2], and the International Olympic Committee ^[3] have adopted the same convention. NATO also uses the reference in official documents but adds an explanation on which member countries recognize the constitutional name.^[4] For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year (99th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Capital Belgrade Language(s) Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian, Albanian, Hungarian and languages of other nationalities. ... The European Broadcasting Union (EBU; French: , and unrelated to the European Union) was formed on 12 February 1950 by 23 broadcasting organisations from Europe and the Mediterranean at a conference in the coastal resort of Torquay in Devon, UK. In 1993, the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT), an equivalent... Stamp The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas on June 23, 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 396 AD. Its membership is 203 National Olympic Committees. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ...

The UN's member states all recognise the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia but are divided over what to call it. A number of countries recognise the country by its constitutional name – the Republic of Macedonia – rather than the UN reference, notably three of the five permanent UN Security Council members (the United States^[5], Russia, and the People's Republic of China) and over 100 other UN members^[6]; but the constitutional name is never used in relations where a country not recognizing the constitutional name is a party. A map of UN member states and their dependent territories as recognized by the UN. Regions excluded: Antarctica (regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System), Vatican City (the Holy See is a UN observer), the Palestinian territories (Palestine, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, is a UN observer), and Western Sahara... For an in depth analysis of the often confusing terms regarding Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ...

Foreign relation of Macedonia     recognition and diplomatic relations      recognition

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List of countries and entities recognizing the country and established diplomatic relations

• [1] (see the map above)
• European Union (EU)
• Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) [2]

The Knights Hospitaller (the or Knights of Malta or Knights of Rhodes) is a tradition which began as a Benedictine nursing Order founded in the 11th century based in the Holy Land, but soon became a militant Christian Chivalric Order under its own charter, and was charged with the care...

List of countries recognizing the country, but not yet established diplomatic relations

List of countries and entities not yet formally recognizing the country

• Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Georgia, Malta, Cyprus
• Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia
• South Korea, Philippines, Bhutan, Brunei
• Mali, Liberia, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe
• Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, Paraguay, Chile
• Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tonga, Fiji
• Palestinian Authority, Sahrawi Republic, Taiwan (1999-2001)

The West Bank The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA) is a semi-autonomous state institution nominally governing the bulk of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (which it calls the Palestinian Territories). It was established as a part of Oslo accords between the PLO and Israel. ... National motto: Liberty, Democracy, Unity Official language Arabic (Spanish is widely used as a second language) Capital and largest city (العيون) - Arabic translitteration -- El Aaiún - Spanish translitteration -- Laâyoune - French translitteration; Bir Lehlou, temporary capital President Mohamed Abdelaziz Prime Minister Abdelkader Taleb Oumar Area - Total - % water Ranked 83rd 266,000...

International disputes

Albania

The Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia, where they form 25.2% of the entire population according to official statistics, while continuing to seek regional cooperation. The 2001 conflict in Republic of Macedonia between the majority ethnic Macedonians and the minority Albanians caused some tensions between the two countries. However, the subsequent peace agreement and the implementation of greater rights for ethnic Albanians has helped to stabilise the situation. For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... Combatants Republic of Macedonia National Liberation Army Commanders Boris Trajkovski Ljube Boškoski Ali Ahmeti Casualties 63 (Macedonian sources) 64 (NLA sources) Civilian casualties: 70 dead (60 ethnic Albanians, 10 ethnic Macedonians) The 2001 Macedonia conflict was an armed conflict which began when the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army (NLA...

Bulgaria

Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the independence of the Republic of Macedonia. Bulgaria has however refused to recognise the existence of a separate Macedonian nation and a separate Macedonian language. It argues that the Macedonians are a subgroup of the Bulgarian nation and that the Macedonian language is a dialect of Bulgarian. This leads to some complications when signing treaties between these countries—they are signed with this long phrase in the end: "done in the official languages of the two states—Bulgarian language, according to the Constitution of Bulgaria and Macedonian language, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia". The Macedonian language (македонски јазик makedonski jazik) is a language in the Eastern group of South Slavic languages and is the official language of the Republic of Macedonia. ... An official language is a language that is given a unique legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Bulgarian ( // , Balgarski ezik) is an Indo-European language, a member of the Southern branch of the Slavic languages. ... The Constitution of Bulgaria (Bulgarian: ) is the supreme and basic law of the Republic of Bulgaria. ... The Macedonian language (македонски јазик makedonski jazik) is a language in the Eastern group of South Slavic languages and is the official language of the Republic of Macedonia. ...

Bulgaria gives the Macedonians the right to obtain Bulgarian citizenship: according to the Bulgarian ministry of interior, over 100,000 have applied.^{[citation needed]}

Macedonia has very good relations with Bulgaria in the political, economic, and military spheres. The governments of the two countries work to improve business relations. Bulgaria supports the Macedonian bid to enter the EU and NATO. Bulgaria has also donated tanks, artillery, and other military technology to the Macedonian Army.

Greece

The indeterminate status of the Republic of Macedonia's name arises from a long-running dispute with Greece, which criticizes the use of the Greek name and symbols. The main points of the dispute are:

• The name: the Republic of Macedonia is only part of the wider region of Macedonia, 51% of which is part of Greece, and it is inhabited by an ethnic group of Slavic origin, unrelated to the Ancient Macedonians.
• The flag: the use of a symbol found in Greece (resolved, see below).
• Constitutional issues: certain articles of the constitution that were seen as claims on Greek territory (resolved, see below).

The naming issue was "parked" in a compromise agreed at the United Nations in 1993. However, Greece refused to grant diplomatic recognition to the Republic and imposed an economic blockade that lasted until the flag and constitutional issues were resolved in 1995. The Ancient Macedonians were the inhabitants of Macedon in ancient times. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

Naming issue

See Macedonia naming dispute For an in depth analysis of the often confusing terms regarding Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ...

Flag issue

The former flag of Republic of Macedonia (used from 1992-1995)

Republic of Macedonia's first post-independence flag caused a major controversy when it was unveiled. The use of the Vergina Sun on the flag offended Greeks, as the symbol is being associated with King Philip II of Macedon and by extension with his son, Alexander the Great. The Greek viewpoint was summed up in an FAQ circulated on the Internet in the late 1990s: Image File history File links Flag_of_Macedonia_1991-95. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Macedonia_1991-95. ... The Vergina Sun or Star of Vergina is a symbol of a stylised star with sixteen rays. ... Philip II of Macedon: victory medal (niketerion) struck in Tarsus, 2nd c. ... Alexander the Great (Greek: ,[1] Megas Alexandros; July 356 BC–June 11, 323 BC), also known as Alexander III, king of Macedon (336–323 BC), was one of the most successful military commanders in history. ... FAQ is an abbreviation for Frequently Asked Question(s). The term refers to listed questions and answers, all supposed to be frequently asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. ...

The Vergina Sun, the emblem of Philip's dynasty, symbolizes the birth of our nation. It was the first time (4th century BC) that the Greek mainland (city-states and kingdoms) with the same language, culture, and religion were united against the enemies of Asia in one league. At the same time the fractured Greek world grew conscious of its unity. And, in this sense, we have never been apart since then. The "Sun" was excavated in Greece in 1978, and it is sacred to us.^[7]

The symbol was removed from the flag under an agreement reached between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece in September 1995. The Republic agreed to meet a number of Greek demands for changes to its national symbols and constitution, while Greece agreed to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic and end its economic blockade.

Constitutional issue

The Republic of Macedonia's first post-independence constitution, adopted on November 17, 1991 included a number of clauses that Greece interpreted as promoting secessionist sentiment among the Slavophone population of northern Greece, and making irredentist claims on Greek territory. Article 49 of the constitution caused particular concern. It read: 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... irredentism is position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity and/or prior historical possession, actual or alleged. ...

(1) The Republic cares for the status and rights of those persons belonging to the Macedonian people in neighboring countries, as well as Macedonian expatriates, assists their cultural development and promotes links with them. In the exercise of this concern the Republic will not interfere in the sovereign rights of other states or in their internal affairs.

(2) The Republic cares for the cultural, economic and social rights of the citizens of the Republic abroad. ^[8]

The Greek government interpreted this as a licence for the Republic of Macedonia to interfere in Greek internal affairs. Given long-standing Greek sensitivities over the position of the country's minority groups, the government saw this as being the most serious of the three main issues affecting relations between the two countries; the issue of the republic's symbols, by contrast, was seen as being of much less substantive importance, even though it aroused the loudest political controversy. The Greek prime minister at the time, Constantine Mitsotakis, later commented that Constantine Mitsotakis Constantine Mitsotakis (in Greek:Κωνσταντίνος Μητσοτάκης-Konstantinos Mitsotakis) (born October 18, 1918), Greek politician, was born in Chania, Crete. ...

What concerned me from the very first moment was not the name of the state. The problem for me was that [we should not allow] the creation of a second minority problem in the area of western [Greek] Macedonia [the first minority being the turkish-speaking Greeks of eastern Thrace]. My main aim was to convince the Republic to declare that there is no Slavomacedonian minority in Greece. This was the real key of our difference with Skopje. ^[9]

The offending articles were removed under the 1995 agreement between the two sides.

Serbia

A February 2001 agreement with Serbia and Montenegro settled the alignment of the boundary between the two countries, mandating implementation within two years. However, ethnic Albanians on both sides of the border have expressed opposition to the agreement due to the imposition of tighter border controls and the transfer of some territory to the Macedonian side. Approximately 2400 acres of territory that was due to be transferred to the Republic of Macedonia from Kosovo has not occurred due to disagreements between the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General and the Provisional Self-Government of Kosovo Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... For uses of the name Kosova, see Kosova (disambiguation). ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... A large number of international organizations and other bodies have a secretary general or secretary-general as their chief administrative officers or in other administrative capacities. ... For uses of the name Kosova, see Kosova (disambiguation). ...

References

This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The World Factbook 2007 (government edtion) cover. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

1. ^ European Commission. Background information - The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
2. ^ European Broadcasting Union. Members' Logos. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
3. ^ International Olympic Committee. LIST OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES PARTICIPATING IN THE XIX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES IN SALT LAKE CITY. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
4. ^ North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. "The situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is critical". Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
5. ^ "US snubs Greece over Macedonia" (HTML), BBC News Online, 4 Nov 2004. Retrieved on 2006-10-01. (in english) 
6. ^ "Naming the solution", Kathimerini English edition, 16 September 2005
7. ^ Never Say Never Again (1998-11-15). "Macedonian FAQ (Hellenic)". alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox. (Google Groups). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
8. ^ Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, adopted 17 November 1991, amended on 6 January 1992
9. ^ Constantine Mitsotakis, quoted in Tom Gallagher, The Balkans In The New Millennium: in the shadow of war and peace, p. 6. Routledge, 2005. ISBN 0415349400

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Kathimerini (Greek: Η Καθημερινή, Translation: The Daily) is a daily newspaper published in Athens. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

External links

• Letter from Greek Foreign Minister Antonis Samaras to his EU counterparts, 17 January 1992
• Former YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND GREECE: The name issue, via the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Athens-Skopje: An Uneasy Symbiosis, 1995-2002 Greek View of 1995 Interim Agreement
• Interim Accord between the Hellenic Republic and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 13 September 1995
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia