Country Information on Macedonia

Terrain Macedonia is a mountainous country, Mount Korab (2,750 m) being the country's highest elevation. The republic is located in an active earthquake area. Macedonia's longest river is the Vardar. It runs in a south-easterly direction to Greece, where it is called Axiós and flows into the Aegean Sea. Ohrid, Prespa, and Dojran lakes are the country's largest lakes. Climate Macedonia's western regions have a Mediterranean climate, towards the country's interior, continental influences increase. The mountainous regions of the republic are characterized by hot, dry summers and autumns, while winters are cold with heavy snowfalls. The valleys and river basins record milder temperatures throughout the year. Fauna/Flora Large parts of the country are forested. In the mountains (at lower elevations) common beech and chestnut tree prevail, whereas from approx. 1,200 m conifers onwards, fir-trees and pine predominate instead. On the shores of Ohrid and Prespa lakes fig and walnut trees grow, as well as cypresses. Wildlife in mountainous areas includes wolves, lynxes, chamois, ibexes, and brown bears. Owing to their life in seclusion, stocks are quite stable. Furthermore, deer, martens, and wild boars find a suitable habitat in the extensive forest areas. In the lake region in the south-west of Macedonia birdlife abounds in species. Typical waterfowl are pelicans and cormorants. History/Politics In 395 AD, Macedonia became part of the eastern half of the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire. In the 6th and 7th centuries, a large number of Slavs from other parts of Eastern Europe settled in Macedonia and gradually became the dominant group. From the 9th century on, parts of the region were ruled by the Bulgarian, Byzantine, and Serbian empires. In 1371, Macedonia fell under the sway of the Ottoman Empire. During the long decline of this empire, Greeks, Serbs, and Bulgarians waged their territorial wars in Macedonia. During the Balkan Wars (1912/1913), Macedonia was wrested from Ottoman control. The First Balkan War in 1912 brought Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria together against Turkey. In the Second Balkan War in 1913, Greece and Serbia ousted the Bulgarians and split Macedonia between themselves. Frustrated by this result, the Internal Macedonien Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) continued to struggle against royalist Serbia; the interwar government in Belgrade responded by banning the Macedonian language and even the name Macedonia. Though some IMRO elements supported the Bulgarian occupation of Macedonia during World War II, many more joined Tito's partisans, and in 1943 it was agreed that post-war Macedonia would have the full status of a republic in future Yugoslavia. The first Macedonian grammar was published in 1952, and an independent Macedonian Orthodox Church was allowed to form. By recognising Macedonians as an ethnic group distinct from both Serbs and Bulgarians, the Belgrade authorities hoped to weaken Bulgarian claims to Macedonia. On 8 September 1991, a referendum on independence was held in Macedonia and an overwhelming majority voted in favour, so in January 1992, the country declared its full independence from former Yugoslavia. On 8 April 1993, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was finally recognized by the international community upon becoming a member of the United Nations. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia having been reluctant to agree, 8 April 1996 eventually saw mutual recognition of both countries' status according to international law. Finally, the Georgievski government signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union on 9 April 2001. Economy Although one of the least developed of the six republics of the former Yugoslavia, Macedonia has the potential to be largely self-sufficient in many foodstuffs and in electrical energy (hydro power, coal and renewables). The principal agricultural products are wheat, corn, tomatoes, rice, peppers, livestock and livestock products, and tobacco; fruits and other vegetables are also grown for export in significant quantities. Wine is also an important export produce. Industry primarily is low technology and includes oil refining, mining (coal, chromium, lead, zinc and ferro-nickel), basic textiles, construction, shoe production and tobacco processing. Macedonia is suffering from many of the same ills as other Central/East European countries going through the transition from a centrally-planned to a market economy. In addition, the productive sector was dominated by large firms in heavy industries many of which were integrated with firms located in other Yugoslav republics. Enterprises which relied on them for material and power inputs, were dimensioned to supply captive markets that have now been lost. Real gross domestic product in 1999 amounted to 2.7%, consumer price index was -0.7% in the same year. Macedonia has to cope with an unemployment rate of 32.4% Culture In Macedonian folk music, the drone of the gajda (bagpipes) and chords of the tambura (two-stringed lute) provide a background for the kaval (flute) and tapan (a huge cylindrical drum). The most famous and popular Macedonian folk dance is called Teskoto (The Hard One). It is a male dance, starts very slowly and gets progressively faster. This dance symbolizes the national awakening of the Macedonian people and is performed with dancers dressed in traditional Macedonian costumes. The Balkan Festival of Folk Dances and Songs, held in Ohrid in early July, draws folkloric groups from around the Balkans. The Ohrid Summer Festival, held from mid-July to mid-August, features classical concerts. Poets gather in Struga at the end of August for an International Festival of Poetry.