North Macedonia

North Macedonia, officially known as the Republic of North Macedonia, is a country located in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993, but, as a result of a dispute with Greece over its name, it was admitted under the provisional description of "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (abbreviated as "FYR Macedonia" or "FYROM"). In June 2018, Macedonia and Greece resolved the dispute with an agreement that the country should rename itself "Republic of North Macedonia". This renaming came into effect in February 2019.

History

The history of North Macedonia dates back to the ancient kingdom of Paeonia, which was later conquered by the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the area was invaded by the Slavs and the Byzantine Empire. In the late 14th century, it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, where it remained under control for nearly five centuries. In the early 20th century, following the Balkan Wars and World War I, the region was divided among Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece. After World War II, it became a part of the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Geography

North Macedonia is landlocked and bordered by Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. It has a transitonal climate from Mediterranean to continental. The summers are hot and dry, and the winters are moderately cold. The country is the most mountainous in Europe, with a large number of mountain ranges, valleys, and basins.

Economy

The economy of North Macedonia has become more liberalized, with an improved business environment, since the country underwent economic reform in 1991. The country's main industries include food processing, textiles, chemicals, steel, cement, energy, and pharmaceuticals. It has a high level of foreign trade, with a positive trade balance.

Culture

The culture of North Macedonia is a blend of the country's rich historical past and its modern European present. It is characterized by its ancient cultural heritage, including archaeology, visual arts, and performing arts, as well as its contemporary literature, film, and music scenes.

Cuisine

The cuisine of North Macedonia is a representative of the cuisine of the Balkans, reflecting Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences, and to a lesser extent Italian, German and Eastern European. The relatively warm climate in North Macedonia provides excellent growth conditions for a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits.