The Country

Geography:
The Republic of Macedonia is a land-locked South-Eastern European state. It is situated in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is located between 40° 51' and 42° 22' north geographic latitude and 20° 27' and 23° 05' east geographic longitude. It borders the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the north, the Republic of Bulgaria to the east, the Republic of Greece to the south and the Republic of Albania to the west. Situated in this area of Europe and the Balkans, the Republic of Macedonia has a good geographical position. Such geographical features give broad opportunities for geographic connections, traffic communications and economic links. The Republic of Macedonia belongs to the group of small continental states, because it occupies an area of 25,713 km2 and has a population of 1,945,932 inhabitants (according to the 1994 Census). Capital city is Skopje. Its population comprises 66.6% Macedonians, 22.7% Albanians, 4% Turks, 2.2% Romas, 2.1% Serbs and 2.4% others.

National History:
Summary Narrative History

Key Dates:
Iron Age		Macedonians, formed during the Iron Age, from Brygian substratum and from Indo-European superstratum settled at the end of the second millenium.
498 - 454 BC		Macedonia are already present on the international scene.
360/359 BC		Philip II united Macedonia and enforced Macedonian dominance upon the neighboring nations.
336 BC		Under Alexander III lidership, Macedonia became the most powerful country, with the most organized and most unified army.
9th century		The Slavic tribes in Macedonia accepted Christianity as their own religion.
11th century		The Ohrid archbishopric, with main seat in Ohrid, was founded during the rule of Czar Samoil.
14th century		Macedonia fell under Turkish rule and remained as such for five centuries (1392 - 1912).
1767		The Ohrid archbishopric was cancelled.
2 August 1903		The Ilinden uprising had begun. The rebels in the town of Krusevo organized their own power, well known as the Republic of Krusevo ("Krushevska Republika"), which lasted 10 days.
1912		First Balkan War in which the allied Balkan countries, Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece, achieved victory over the Ottoman Empire (Turkey).
1913		The Second Balkan War was led by the country allies from the First Balkan War (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria) with the aim of ruling Macedonia.
10 August 1913		Peace treaty in Bucharest - the territory of Macedonia was partitioned into three parts among Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece.
1915		During the First World War, Bulgaria occupied Macedonia.
29 September 1918		Bulgaria surrenders to the Allies.
1919		Peace conference in Versailles. The "Vardarian" part of Macedonia (today Republic of Macedonia) fell under the rule of the newly formed Kingdom of SHS (Serbia).
1941		The Bulgarian and Italian military forces invade and occupy "Vardarian" Macedonia
11 October 1941		Beginning of an armed anti-fascist battle in Macedonia with a national and revolutionary character, for the realization of an independent Macedonian state.
1943		The first military unit of the Macedonian army was formed.
2 August 1944		A decision was reached to constitute a modern Macedonian country that will become part of the new Federal Yugoslavia.
1945		Control of Macedonia transferred from Bulgaria to Yugoslavia
17 July 1967		The Ohrid Archbishopric was renewed as the Macedonian Orhodox church.
late 1990		First non-Communist government elected in Macedonia.
8 September 1991		Successful referendum for independence held in Macedonia.
27 March 1992		Yugoslav Peoples Army (JNA) completed the withdrawal from Macedonian. Macedonia gains its full independence.
8 April 1993		The Republic of Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations.
23 November 1993		The Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia passed a decision for full NATO membership.
November 1995		Republic of Macedonia became a full member country of the NATO initiative - the Partnership for Peace.
March-June 1999		Kosovo War in neighbouring Yugoslavia causes over 400,000 ethnic Albanian refugees to cross into Macedonia
10 June 1999		Kosovo War ends and Albanian refugees begin returning home
7 January 2000		Ethnic Albanian forces begin terrorist* attacks on Macedonian security forces
March 2001		Fighting between ethnic Albanian terrorist* forces and Macedonian security forces intensifies
9 April 2001		Macedonia officialise its relations with the EU.
mid 2001		NATO brokers a ceasefire between the Macedonian government and the Albanian terrorist* forces
13 August 2001		'Framework Agreement' signed by Macedonian government and ethnic Albanian representatives to strengthen inclusive, multi-ethnic, democratic structures within Macedonia
September 2001		The so-called Albanian National Army (ANA) informs the world that they will continue the fight against "occupiers of the Albanian territories" in Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece on their way to creating a Greater Albania.
4 December 2001		USA offically designates the Albanian National Army (ANA) and the National Committee for the Liberation and Defense of Albanian Lands (KKCMTSH) as terrorist organisations

* The use of the word 'terrorist' is the official policy of the Macedonian Government, and the preferred phrase of our Macedonian correspondent Igor Bozinovski. See our Glossary for a formal definition of the word.

Further National Information:
Macedonia FAQ
War, Peace & Security FYR of Macedonia Page

* The name 'Macedonia' is not officially recognised by the United Nations, due to the ojections of Greece, which has a province with the same name. The short-hand 'FYR Macedonia' or 'FYROM' are commonly used by international organisations such as NATO and the UN. Negotiations to settle the name issue are continuing.