Macedonian flag and name
Macedonia |
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Population - 2.07 million (estimate at July 2009)
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Jugoslavija in 1991, but ran into trouble with its name. Neighbouring Greece objected to the name, which it thought implied claims to the northern Greek province of Μακεδονία (Macedonia). Many international bodies still use the term FYROM, an acronym for the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".
Macedonia applied for EU membership in March 2004. The Commission granted the country candidate status in December 2005. In October 2009, the Commission recommended that accession negotiations be opened.
There will be more information about Macedonia later.