North Macedonia
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NORTH MACEDONIA AT A GLANCE CONTENTS EDUCATION Pre-school education 57 FOREWORD Primary education 59 AT A GLANCE Secondary education 60 The Republic 6 Higher education,research and innovation 62 Crests & Symbols 8 Demographics 10 SOCIETY Geography & Climate 12 Freedom of religion 66 Famous Macedonians 14 Civil society 69 The Legal And Political System 16 Migration 72 THE LEGAL AND THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE POLITICAL SYSTEM The public broadcaster (МRТ) 76 Private national terrestrial TV stations 77 The Constitution 18 Private national TV stations that 77 The Legislative Branch 20 Broadcast via satellite The Executive Branch 22 Private national TV stations that 78 Public Administration 25 Broadcast via operator of a public The Judicial Branch 26 Electronic communications network Regional TV stations 79 FOREIGN POLICY Local TV Stations 79 Radio stations 79 The “three Ilindens”: from the dream of 30 Print media 80 autonomy to challenged sovereignty Online media 80 The essence of “Great power” support 33 Regulation in the media sector 81 Long-lasting “Interim” solutions 34 Security and welfare umbrella 36 CULTURE AND WAY Threats - myths vs reality 36 Real and fake alternatives 38 OF LIFE The EU welfare dream 38 Macedonia: A country of rich cultural heritage 82 Internal market and beyond 39 Skopje earthquake 85 Who remains to be integrated? 40 Mother Theresa 85 Success is rather based on reforms 41 Matka Canyon 85 than on membership Main cultural institutions and events 86 Customs and traditions 87 BUSINESS AND ECONOMY Food 88 Wine 89 The legislative framework of doing 42 business in Macedonia Taxes 44 TOURISM The Macedonian economy 45 Ohrid: the city, the lake and the festival 90 The mountains 93 CLIMATE CHANGE AND Bitola and Krushevo 94 Kokino 95 ENVIRONMENT Climate change 46 SPORTS 98 Energy 49 Waste 50 PICTURE CREDITS 100 Air quality 52 REFERENCES 101 Water 53 IMPRINT 103 Biodiversity 54 GETTING AROUND 104 FOREWORD What are the main features of North Mace- Hence, our main target group is the interna- donia, its politics and society? How do the tional community. This publication is aimed citizens of North Macedonia live? What are at promoting North Macedonia in those cir- their possibilities in education and employ- cles, at presenting North Macedonia’s best ment? How do they spend their free time? capacities, and at supporting the country in These are the questions I was asking myself promoting itself on the international stage. four years ago, during my preparation time at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, The handbook comprises nine chapters, with trying to find out more about the country of each of them presenting facts and figures in my new appointment. Researching and goog- order to provide a basic understanding of ling made me realize that there is a huge lack North Macedonia’s history, its society and of systematized data about the country, so, politics, including contemporary issues as being a foreigner and future Director of the well as famous personalities. KAS Office in Skopje, I had to put a lot of effort into finding basic information, and only a few The publication is a joint project of the Kon- sources seemed reliable. This was to become rad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the CIVIC-Institute one of my strongest motivations for initiating for International Education in Düsseldorf, the idea of “North Macedonia at a Glance”: our long-standing partners and friends, who a short guidebook with the most important shared their ideas and gave valuable inputs facts and figures about the country. during the concept development and the re- alization of this project. “North Macedonia at a Glance” provides espe- cially the international reader with the most We wish you a pleasant and interesting reading. important basic information about North Macedonia, particularly with regard to its political and legal system, culture and soci- ety, the educational system, media, the way Johannes D. Rey of life, as well as some basic economic data. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Kale Fortress, City of Skopje INTRODUCTION In ten chapters, we would like to present dif- faced so far and which we hope to overcome. ferent perspectives on the Republic of North Definitely, integration into the European Un- Macedonia. It has been an honour for us to ion remains the primary goal of Macedonian have ten respected and well-known Macedo- foreign policy. nian authors, specialists with different fields of expertise, give us their in-depth insights in Economic upswing leads to prospering gener- order to raise awareness about their country, al welfare. In the fourth chapter, we describe its people, possibilities and challenges, thus the legal foundations and key initiatives of offering us the opportunity to better under- the Republic of North Macedonia in the field stand North Macedonia in these stormy po- of economic policy. For a young state, these litical days. are the main guidelines for the years to come. An extensive introduction can be found in Aspects of environmental and energy policy, the first chapter. It addresses problems of as well as the issues of global climate change, the ethnic composition of the population in are also gaining importance in the Republic of the Republic of North Macedonia and the North Macedonia. Reducing the air pollution complex political system related to it. This in built-up areas, especially around greater overview serves as a basis for an in-depth un- Skopje, is becoming increasingly significant. derstanding of everyday life in the Republic of Macedonian society becomes ever more North Macedonia. aware of the waste management problems and the need of reducing plastic waste. How- The second chapter is based on the previous ever, many steps are left to be taken in or- one. It deals with facets of the three powers der to achieve sustainable success. The fifth according to the Macedonian Constitution chapter describes the requirements and nec- and sketches the public institutions of the essary measures in detail. country. In the sixth chapter, we take a look at the The third chapter is of paramount impor- efforts of the education policy of the Republic tance to better understand the Macedonian of North Macedonia. According to the govern- society and politics. Starting from the Ilinden ment, education, research and the will to in- Uprising and proclamation of the Kruševo novation are the key factors to strengthen the Republic in 1903, the author describes Mac- Macedonian economy and the welfare of its edonia’s way to statehood. He presents chal- people. This is related to the aim to develop lenges and obstacles that this young state has an education system that focuses on learners and is based on modern learning programmes Finally, on the last pages of our publication, you which should provide future generations with will find a summary of additional facts and infor- the necessary knowledge, skills and capabili- mation about the Republic of North Macedonia. ties to meet the requirements of a well-func- tioning, democratic, and multicultural society, We have composed an overview of the most in accordance with the European model. Those important data from the last decades, which assets are equally needed to meet the re- clearly depict the remarkable will to be sover- quirements of the constantly changing labour eign and to integrate with NATO and the Euro- market and new global challenges, as well as pean Union. to assume an active role in the design of these processes. We cannot present a complete picture of the country, but we still wanted to mention some The Republic of North Macedonia is character- important Macedonian personalities from the ised by its multi-ethnic and multi-religious soci- areas of religion, culture, sports, and politics. ety. The seventh chapter gives an impression Certainly, you are familiar with some of these of the religious landscape and the efforts of the persons, while you might not know that they civil society. Another aspect the chapter deals are Macedonian. And, definitely, you may know with is the emigration from North Macedonia, other important persons from North Macedo- which has been lasting for decades, including nia that we have not listed here. an overview of where people have tried to find a new life beyond their homeland. Finally, we would like to draw your attention to one of the most precious treasures of the Free media play an important role in the free country. Although we do not see our publi- development of civil society and equal political cation primarily as a travel guide focused on competition. The eighth chapter describes tourist destinations, the picture would defi- the current situation of media in the Republic nitely not be complete without the national of North Macedonia, including the develop- parks and the double world heritage of the city ment of digital media. of Ohrid with its lake. In the ninth and tenth chapter, we discuss We hope that you will enjoy reading this publi- the cultural heritage and the current „Macedo- cation that aims to bring closer the Republic of nian way of life“ in detail. The authors give a di- North Macedonia, its everyday life, its people verse picture of the country and point out why and their wishes, and we hope that reading it North Macedonia is worth visiting and getting will provide you with some pleasant surprises. to know, especially when it comes to its peo- ple. The Republic of North Macedonia inspires Holger-Michael Arndt with its everyday culture. It engages the visitor, Managing Director of the CIVIC Institut für invites to participate, and integrates. Join us on internationale Bildung a journey to the Republic of North Macedonia. Honorary Consul of the Republic of North Macedonia 6 | 9 AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE The Republic Crests & Symbols Demographics Geography & Climate Parliament & Parties Government The President Judiciary by Daniel Gjokeski Project Developer in the fields of education and youth empowerment THE REPUBLIC The Republic of Macedonia is a sovereign and drafting a Constitution which was adopted by independent state at the heart of the Balkan the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia Peninsula.