Land area

25.713 sq km

Location

in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula with SR Yugoslavia as her neighbor country on the north, Bulgaria on the east, Albania on the west and Greece on the south.

Population

1.936.877 (1994 census)

Capital

Skopje

Climate

Moderate - continental

Ethnic structure

Macedonians (66,5%), Albanians (22,9%), Turks (4,0%), Gypsies (2,3%), Serbs (2,0), Vlachs (0,4%0) and others (1,9%).

Language

Official language is Macedonian with its Cyrillic alphabet.

In the units for local self-government in which the representatives of the ethnic minorities prevail, in addition to the official use of Macedonian and the Cyrillic alphabet the language and alphabet of the nationalities are also used in the way established by Law.

Independence

8 September 1991 - referendum - citizens of the Republic of Macedonia voted for independent and autonomous state.

The new Constitution, by which the independence was actualized, was adopted on 17 November 1991.

Key events

8 April 1993- Macedonia became member of the United Nations Organization.

12 May 1993- Macedonia became member of the World Health Organization.

Political system

The profile of the political system is made of several parties. The Parlament consists of one House only with 120 members and is responsible for the legislative issues. The Parlament elects the Council of Ministers (Government) of RM. The President is elected by way of direct elections with a five year mandate. Council of Ministers and the President are the executive entities. Preparatory activities for the third parliamentary elections are underway.