3. Background Information on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA 3.1 Basic data on fYRoM General topographic map1 Total area: 25,713 sq km Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Kosovo 159 km, Serbia Border countries: 62 km (total: 766 km) Population: 2,077,328 Capital: Skopje (480,000) Kumanovo 103,200 Bitola 86,400 Main towns: Prilep 73,400 Tetovo 70,800 Veles 57,600 Ethnic groups: Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma2.7%, Serb 1.8% Main languages: Macedonian (official), Albanian (official), Turkish, Roma, Serbian Religions: Eastern Orthodox 65%, Muslim 29%, Catholic 4% Macedonian Denar (MKD) Currency: Approximate rate: 1 Euro = 61,1 denars The denar was introduced on May 10th 1993 low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, Natural resources: silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land 1 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26759.htm; Macedonia- Country Report, Economist Intelligence Unit, May 2011; http://www.mfa.gov.mk/default1.aspx?ItemID=288; 3.2 Political structure - overview2 The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (provisional, Official name: internationally recognized, pending resolution of name dispute with Greece) Form of state: Democratic parliamentary republic Legal system: Based on the constitution of November 17th 1991 National legislature: Unicameral Assembly (Sobranie) of 120 members Electoral system: universal suffrage over the age of 18 years Last parliamentary election: June 1st 2008; next election due on June 5th 2011 National elections: Last presidential election: March 22nd and April 5th 2009; next election due in 2014 Head of state: President; currently Gjorge Ivanov (inaugurated on May 12th 2009) Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister.
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