The Republic of Macedonia¤(Macedonian: Република Македонија) is an independent state on the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. It is commonly referred to as Macedonia, but this can cause confusion with the wider geographical region of Macedonia. Due to a dispute between the governments of the Republic of Macedonia and Greece, the United Nations referred to the country as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) (Macedonian: Поранешна Југословенска Република Македонија (ПЈРМ)) when it became a member state in 1993. The UN, other international organisations, and some individual countries still use that designation, but most countries now recognise the Republic under its name for bilateral diplomatic relations.The Republic of Macedonia is now a country candidate for joining the European Union and NATO.
The lands governed by the Republic of Macedonia were previously the southernmost part of Yugoslavia. Its current borders were fixed shortly after World War II when socialist Yugoslavia established the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, recognising the Macedonians as a separate nation within Yugoslavia. Renamed as the Republic of Macedonia in 1991 it seceded peacefully from Yugoslavia without any further territorial changes. However, since then the country has been embroiled in a prolonged political dispute with Greece concerning its use of the name "Macedonia". Nonetheless, this situation has not prevented the two countries engaging in military and security co-operation, cross-border investments and cultural exchanges.
The Republic of Macedonia is often called a land of lakes and mountains. There are more than 50 natural and artificial lakes and sixteen mountain ranges that are higher than 2000 meters above the sea level. The Republic of Macedonia has land boundaries with Serbia and Montenegro to the north, Albania to the west, Greece to the south and Bulgaria to the east. The capital is Skopje with more that 600 000 inhabitants and the other cities of significance are Bitola, Prilep, Tetovo, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Veles, Stip, Strumica etc.
The dispute over the Republic's national symbols and constitution was resolved in an agreement reached between the Republic and Greece in 1995, but no solution has yet been reached on the naming issue. Athens has also accepted for the Republic to include the term "Macedonia / Makedonja" but only if it is accompanied by a qualitative that distinguishes it from the Greek province of Macedonia. Nonetheless, this situation has not prevented the two countries engaging in military and security co-operation, cross-border investments and cultural exchanges.
The Republic of Macedonia encompasses only a part of the wider geographical region of Macedonia. The remainder is divided between neighboring Greece (with about half of the total), Bulgaria (with under a tenth) and Albania.
The terrain is mostly rugged, located between the Šar and Rhodope mountains around the valley of the Vardar river. Three large lakes - Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Lake Doiran - lie on the southern borders of the Republic, bisected by the frontiers with Albania and Greece.
The region is seismically active and has been the site of destructive earthquakes in the past, most recently in 1963 when Skopje was heavily damaged by a major earthquake.
Macedonian Culture is the culture of the Slavic Macedonian population of the Balkan region was known in the 20th century as Vardar Macedonia, the current Republic of Macedonia). Old Church Slavonic, developed in the 9th century AD by the Byzantine missionaries, Saints Cyril and Methodius from Greek Macedonia, led to the creation of the modern writing systems for the Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian, and Ukrainian languages, all based on the modern Cyrillic alphabet. Prior to the Renaissance, while the rest of Europe was still in the middle ages, Byzantine builders and artists were embodying iconography and creating frescoes as early as the 11th century.
The Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, established in 1944 in the People's Republic of Macedonia within Yugoslavia, is the oldest cultural institution in the field of music. There are six chamber ensembles, such as ‘Tanec’, that represent the richness of Macedonian folklore and songs, and there are ten other folklore ensembles that are active. There are three professional and twenty amateur choirs. Each year about 50,000 people attend concerts of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra and the various folk dance ensembles and other cultural and artistic associations. In addition to the concerts held as part of the Ohrid Summer Festival, an annual festival of classical music named Interfest was established in Bitola a few years ago. The Skopje International Jazz Festival has become a highly prestigious music event. Many of the most renowned jazz groups and names in the world of jazz have taken part in the festival, and in concept and atmosphere, participants and critics consider it one of the most successful jazz festivals around the world.
Folk music is one of the most cherished areas of Macedonian culture, and several folk festivals take place each year. The oldest is Folkfest, held in Valandovo, and most festivals have greater turnouts among Macedonian expatriates in Australia and Canada. The Festival of Old Town Songs in Ohrid and the Ilinden Days of Folk Song in Bitola are events that celebrate traditional Macedonian songs. Mak-Fest in Stip and the Skopje Festival are the two best-known festivals of popular music in the Republic of Macedonia.
The pop group Leb i Sol, with its original music infusing traditional folk themes and rhythms with modern influence, has been active for over twenty years and has become widely known both inside and outside Macedonia.
Things you should know when travelling to Macedonia
The security situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has stabilized. Inter-ethnic conflicts and confrontations between criminal gangs have greatly diminished since 2001 and rarely occur now. Caution should be exercised when travelling.
Most Canadian visitors to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia do not experience problems. Petty crime is generally low, but theft is on the increase. Pickpocketing and purse-snatching occur, especially at Skopje's Petrovec Airport and Trgovski Centar, the main downtown shopping mall. Foreigners have been the target of muggings. Visitors should remain vigilant and avoid demonstrations. Ensure personal belongings, passports, and all other travel documents are secure.
