North Macedonia

International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) 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. FYROM's large Albanian minority and the de facto independence of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.

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

party to:

Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

23% (male 248,400; female 230,091)

15-64 years:

67% (male 684,025; female 678,014)

65 years and over:

10% (male 89,539; female 111,398) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.08 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.8 male(s)/female

total population:

1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

total population:

73.79 years

male:

71.58 years

female:

76.19 years (2000 est.)

noun:

Macedonian(s)

adjective:

Macedonian

definition:

NA

total population:

NA%

male:

NA%

female:

NA%

conventional long form:

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

conventional short form:

none

local long form:

Republika Makedonija

local short form:

Makedonija

abbreviation:

F.Y.R.O.M.

chief of state:

President Boris TRAJKOVSKI (since 15 December 1999)

head of government:

Prime Minister Ljubco GEORGIEVSKI (since 30 November 1998)

cabinet:

• Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly;
• note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties VMRO-DPMNE, DA, and DPA

elections:

• president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
• election last held 14 November 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004);
• prime minister appointed by the president

election results:

Boris TRAJKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Boris TRAJKOVSKI 52.4%, Tito PETKOVSKI 46.2%

• Alliance of Romas [leader NA];
• Alliance of Communists [leader NA];
• Civic Liberal Party [leader NA];
• Communist Party [leader NA];
• Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president];
• Democratic Party for Albanians or DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president];
• Democratic Party of Macedonia or DPM [Tomislav STOJANOVSK-BOMBAJ];
• Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM [Dragisa MILETIC];
• Democratic Party of Turks or DPTM [Erdogan SARAC];
• Democratic Progressive Party of Romas [leader NA];
• Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE [Ljubcho GEORGIEVSKI, president];
• Labor Party or LP [Krste JANKOVSKI];
• League of Democracy [leader NA];
• Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV];
• Movement for All Macedonian Action or MAAK [Straso ANGELOVSKI];
• Party for Democratic Action-True Path [leader NA];
• Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP [Abdurahman HALITI, president];
• Party for the Complete Emancipation of Romas or PCER [Bajram BERAT];
• Party of Pensioners of Macedonia [leader NA];
• Republican Party for National Unity [leader NA];
• Social Christian Party of Macedonia [leader NA];
• Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM (former Communist Party) [Branko CRVENKOVSKI, president];
• Social Democratic Party of Macedonia or SDPM [leader NA];
• Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Ljubica Z. ACEVSKA

chancery:

3050 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:

[1] (202) 337 3063

FAX:

[1] (202) 337-3093

consulate(s) general:

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Michael EINIK

embassy:

Bul. Ilindenska bb, 91000 Skopje

mailing address:

American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)

telephone:

[389] (91) 116-180

FAX:

[389] (91) 117-103

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

domestic:

NA

international:

NA

total:

699 km

standard gauge:

699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified)

note: a new 56-km line is under construction to the Bulgarian border (1999)

total:

8,684 km

paved:

5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)

unpaved:

3,144 km (1997 est.)

• dispute with Greece over its name;
• the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far;
• Albanians in F.Y.R.O.M. claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government

• increasing transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
• minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]