Macedonia celebrates 20 years of independence

Macedonia celebrates Thursday the 20th anniversary of the declaration of its independence from the former Yugoslavia. The central celebration will be held on Thursday evening in downtown Skopje. Macedonia celebrates 20 years of independence The celebration will begin in front of the Macedonian parliament where parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski will hand over the 1991 Declaration of Independence to the Macedonian National Guard. The ceremonies are all marked by the expectation that the country will finally get a start date for its EU accession negotiations, which mostly depends on the outcome of its dispute with Greece regarding Macedonia's name. Greece does not recognize Macedonia under its official name, the Republic of Macedonia, because it has also been the name of its northern province since ancient times. Macedonia became a candidate for the EU in 2005, but the dispute with Athens has prevented it from getting the start date for the accession talks. Greece is also blocking its membership in NATO. Macedonia declared independence September 8, 1991, after a referendum in which the people voted almost unanimously in favor of the independence. The turnout for the vote was 74 percent out of the country's two million people. The new country became a member of the UN in 1993 under a temporary name the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) because of Greece's objections. In the meantime, 132 countries have recognized it under its official name. Macedonia faced internal tension in early 2000s caused by the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army. The international community reacted after a number of violent incidents, which led to an agreement in Ohrid August 13, 2001, ending the conflict. Macedonia remained a centralized state, according to the agreement, but its minorities, especially ethnic Albanians, were given broader rights. (Tanjug)

Macedonia celebrates 20 years of independence

The celebration will begin in front of the Macedonian parliament where parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski will hand over the 1991 Declaration of Independence to the Macedonian National Guard.

The ceremonies are all marked by the expectation that the country will finally get a start date for its EU accession negotiations, which mostly depends on the outcome of its dispute with Greece regarding Macedonia's name.

Greece does not recognize Macedonia under its official name, the Republic of Macedonia, because it has also been the name of its northern province since ancient times.

Macedonia became a candidate for the EU in 2005, but the dispute with Athens has prevented it from getting the start date for the accession talks. Greece is also blocking its membership in NATO.

Macedonia declared independence September 8, 1991, after a referendum in which the people voted almost unanimously in favor of the independence. The turnout for the vote was 74 percent out of the country's two million people.

The new country became a member of the UN in 1993 under a temporary name the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) because of Greece's objections. In the meantime, 132 countries have recognized it under its official name.

Macedonia faced internal tension in early 2000s caused by the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army.

The international community reacted after a number of violent incidents, which led to an agreement in Ohrid August 13, 2001, ending the conflict.

Macedonia remained a centralized state, according to the agreement, but its minorities, especially ethnic Albanians, were given broader rights.