Republic of Macedonia

The Republic of Macedonia¤, referred to by the United Nations and many countries as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), is an independent state on the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. It is often called Macedonia, although this can cause confusion with the wider geographical region of Macedonia and the Greek region of Macedonia.

Naming dispute

The Republic of Macedonia has generally amicable relations with the outside world, but since its independence in 1991 it has been embroiled in a dispute with Greece over the country's official name, national symbols, and constitution.

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The Greek government objected to the Republic's use of the name "Macedonia" on the grounds that it was a Greek name that was already in use by Greek Macedonia. Greece also objected to the country's original flag, which depicted the Vergina Sun, was a misappropriation of a symbol of the ancient state of Macedon first discovered in archaelogical excavations inside Greece in 1978. Further, Greece raised the concern that the Republic's constitution included clauses that Greece interpreted as presaging potential territorial claims.

Related Topics:
Greek - Greek Macedonia - Vergina Sun - Macedon

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One of the Greek arguments against the new country's use of the name Macedonia is the name's Greek origins, and the fact that Slavic tribes did not appear in the territory until the 6th century AD. Furthermore, the Greek government claims that the country was first assigned the name "Macedonia" by Josip Broz Tito, socialist dictator of Yugoslavia, around 1950, when it was the southernmost province of Yugoslavia.

Related Topics:
Greek origins - Slavic - 6th century - Josip Broz Tito - Yugoslavia - 1950

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The United Nations admitted the Republic in 1993 without directly naming it, referring to it as the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". Many international organisations soon adopted the same convention, including the European Union, the European Broadcasting Union, NATO, and the International Olympic Committee, among others.

Related Topics:
United Nations - 1993 - European Union - European Broadcasting Union - NATO - International Olympic Committee

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The issues of the flag and constitution were resolved in 1995 but the naming issue remains unresolved. Many countries, including Australia, Canada, and most member-states of the European Union, recognise it as the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", often abbreviated as "FYROM", while many others, including the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China), recognise it as the "Republic of Macedonia". All have agreed to accept any final agreement resulting from ongoing negotiations at the United Nations. Given the long name, the state is often referred to simply as Macedonia by non-Greeks. Most Greeks use the metonym Skopje (the name of the country's capital) to refer to the entire country; this has not become popular amongst non-Greeks. The dispute continues to excite passions in both nations, but in practice the two countries deal pragmatically with each other. Economic relations and cooperation resumed since 1995 to such an extent that Greece is now considered one of the republic's most important foreign economic partners and investors.http://www.nbrm.gov.mk/WBStorage/Files/AI_Annual_Report_2003_ang.pdf

Related Topics:
1995 - Australia - Canada - European Union - United States - Russia - People's Republic of China - United Nations - Metonym - Skopje

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• See also: Foreign relations of the Republic of Macedonia#Naming dispute with Greece