North Macedonia

North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a country located in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. It declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, following a referendum. The country has a diverse cultural heritage, influenced by Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Slavic civilizations. Throughout its history, North Macedonia has faced challenges related to ethnic tensions, particularly between the majority Macedonian population and the ethnic Albanian minority. The country went through a brief armed conflict in 2001, which was resolved through the Ohrid Agreement, granting greater rights to the Albanian community. In 2019, North Macedonia resolved a longstanding dispute with Greece over its name, leading to its accession to NATO and opening the path towards EU membership. Today, North Macedonia is a parliamentary democracy with a developing economy and a rich cultural heritage.