Macedonia

National Name: Republika Makedonija

Government Parliamentary democracy.

Geography
Macedonia is a landlocked state in the heart of the Balkans and is a mountainous country with small basins of agricultural land. The Vardar is the largest and most important river.

Historical Background
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. In 1995, Greece lifted a 20- month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, although differences over Macedonia's name remain. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement - which ended the 2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency - and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia. Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, of the coalition "For a Better Macedonia" party, won parliamentary elections on June 1, 2008.

Facts & Figures

Name

MACEDONIA

Capital

Luxembourg

Government

Unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Language

French, German

Religion

87% Catholics,13% being made up of Muslims,

Area

2,586.4 km2 (175th) 998.6 sq mi 

Population

2010 estimate 502,202[1] (170th) 2001 census  439,539

Currency

Euro (€)2 (EUR)