Macedonia Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Former Yugoslav Republic; southeastern Europe.

Language

Macedonian (a slavonic language using the Cyrillic script) is the most widely used language. Albanian, Turkish and Serbo-Croat are also used by ethnic groups. English, French and German are widely spoken.

Area

25,713 sq km (9,928 sq miles). The former Yugoslav republic of ‘Macedonia’ is only one of three areas of the historical region of ‘Macedonia’, which includes Pirin Macedonia (Bulgaria) and Aegean Macedonia (Greece), with a total area of 66,600 sq km (25,700 sq miles), most of which is in Greece. In deference to Greek sensibilities, the United Nations and other international organisations have formally recognised Macedonia under the interim name of ‘The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’; however this is gradually reverting to ‘The Republic of Macedonia’. In 2004, the US began using its constitutional name but negotiations with Greece to resolve the name issue continue.

Time Zone

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Population

2,055,915 (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density

80 per sq km.

Capital City

Skopje. Population: 450,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government

Republic since 1991. Gained independence from Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) in 1991.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski since 2006.

Head of State

President Gjorge Ivanov since 2009.

Religion

67% of the population are Eastern Orthodox Macedonians and around 23% are Muslim Albanians. There are also Muslim Turks and Serbian Orthodox minorities. As elsewhere in the former Yugoslav federation, local politics are now strongly divided along national religious lines.

Recent History

Vlado Buckovski's Social Democrat coalition was beaten by the opposition nationalist party VMRO-DPMNE in the July 2006 elections. VMRO-DPMNE is led by Nikola Gruevski, a former finance minister. Macedonia was awarded EU candidate status in December 2005. The Macedonian parliament approved a new government proposed by Gruevski on 26 August 2006.

Along with Albania and Croatia, Macedonia is expected to be invited to join NATO at its next summit in 2008.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: . All telecommunications services are generally working normally.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is mostly good.

Internet

There are a few Internet cafes in the main towns.

Media

The constitution guarantees freedom of speech and access to information.

Post

Services work normally.

Press

• The main daily newspapers are Dnevnik, Utrinski Vesnik, Nova Makedonija and Vecer (an evening paper).
• Weekly papers include Focus and Aktuel.
• The Macedonian Times comes out monthly in English and Macedonian.

Radio

• Macedonia Radio is state owned.
• Kanal 77 and Antenna 5 are private national stations.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar International Women’s Day
25 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May May Day
2 Aug Ilinden (National Holiday)
8 Sep Independence Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
7 Jan Orthodox Christmas
8 Mar International Women’s Day
16 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May May Day
2 Aug Ilinden (National Holiday)
8 Sep Independence Day

Contact Information

Tourist Association of Skopje

Street address: Dame Gruev Gradski Blok 3, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia
Tel: (2) 311 8498.
Website: www.skopjetourism.org

Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in the UK

Suite 2.1 & 2.2, Buckingham Court, Buckingham Gate 75/83, London SW1E 6PE, UK
Tel: (020) 7976 0535 or 0538 (consular section).
Website: www.macedonianembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; Mon, Wed and Fri 1000-1300 (for personal callers).

Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in the USA

2129 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 667 0501.
Website: www.macedonianembassy.org