LOCATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION

Macedonia is situated in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula (South-eastern Europe) in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. The country is bordered by Serbia and Monte Negro to the North, Bulgaria to the East, Greece to the South and Albania to the West. It is a major transit way for shipment of goods from Central Europe to the East and from Eastern Europe and Greece towards Western Europe It covers an area of 25,713 square kilometres inland and 477 square kilometres in water. Its embossment is characterized by large and high mountain massifs giving way to extensive, flat valleys and plains. Almost the entire territory of Macedonia lays between altitudes 40 and 42.

POPULATION

Around 2.3 millions of inhabitants are now living in Macedonia, one quarter of them are in pension age. Ten percents of the population of Macedonia are of other ethnical communities: Albanians, Roma (Gypsies), Turks, Vlahs, and other which numbers are not significant compared to their influence and contribution to the country's culture.

THE STATE SYSTEM

Macedonia is a parliamentary republic, with unicameral parliament and President for a head of state.

THE CAPITAL