*UN membership is registered under "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". The name of the state is however the subject of a dispute between the Greek and the Macedonian governments. Mediation efforts are currently underway under the auspices of the United Nations.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia became independent in 1991 as part of the break up of Yugoslavia. It is a land-locked country in the central Balkans, mountainous with deep basins and valleys. Its best-known tourist feature is Lake Ohrid on the western border with Albania.

Two thirds of the population consist of ethnic Macedonians while there is a sizeable Albanian minority of 25%, and smaller minorities of Turks and Roma.

The 1991 constitution was amended in 2001 to give the minorities increased rights.The single-chamber parliament or Sobranie has 120 members who are elected for a period of four years. The president, who has limited powers, is elected by popular vote for a five-year term.

The country possesses some mineral resources, including iron-ore, copper, lead and zinc. The main economic activities include food processing, tobacco, textiles, chemical, steel and cement.

The local cooking includes specialities like caraway pork with cabbage, stuffed pigeon and the local version of shopska salad (based on tomato, cucumber and sheep’s cheese) which is found throughout the Balkans.

Government: Parliamentary democracy with unicameral parliament
Head of State: President Branko Crvenkovski
Head of Government: Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski
Foreign Minister: Antonio Milošoski

Population: 2.0 million (Jan. 2007)
Capital: Skopje
Area: 25 713 km2
Currency: 1 EUR = 61.50 Macedonian denar (MKD, Dec. 2006)

GDP in real terms: 5 billion EUR (2006)
Economic growth: 4,0% (2005)

Main export markets: Serbia, Montenegro, Germany, Greece, Italy
Main exports: ferro-silicon, non-ferrous metals and non-ferrous metal products, iron and steel, textiles, petroleum products
Main source of imports: Russia, Germany, Italy
Main imports: petroleum and petroleum-based products, automobiles and machinery, manufactured goods of all types
Major economic sectors: agriculture, industry (esp. textiles) and mining, services

Map of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia