Tagged: Macedonia

According to Petsinclude, the government of Northern Macedonia is a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral legislature. The country is officially known as the Republic of Northern Macedonia and is governed by its Constitution which was adopted in 1991. The government is headed by the Prime Minister, currently Zoran Zaev, who serves as both head of state and head of government. The legislative branch consists of the Assembly of the Republic of Northern Macedonia, which consists of 120 members elected to four-year terms. This body is responsible for making laws and approving budgets for the country. The judicial branch consists of various levels of courts, including a Supreme Court at the apex. Judges are appointed by the President and are responsible for interpreting and applying laws. Northern Macedonia has local governments in municipalities where citizens can participate directly in decision-making on local issues such as education, public works and sanitation. The central government in Skopje has ultimate authority over all aspects of life in Northern Macedonia, but allows some autonomy to local governments to encourage citizen participation in decision-making processes. The Constitution guarantees citizens’ rights such as freedom from arbitrary arrest or exile; freedom from torture or cruel or degrading treatment or punishment; freedom from interference with privacy; freedom to express opinion freely; freedom to assemble peacefully without arms; freedom to form political parties; right to due process under law; and right to vote in free elections. These freedoms are respected in practice and citizens have been able to exercise their rights without fear or discrimination from authorities. Northern Macedonia is a small landlocked country located in the Balkans, bordered by Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo and Serbia. It is a member of the United Nations, NATO and the Council of Europe. The country has been an independent nation since 1991 and has sought to strengthen its international relations ever since. Northern Macedonia enjoys good relations with its immediate neighbors in the Balkans region. It has strong ties with Serbia and Bulgaria who have provided it with economic aid and support for its accession to NATO. It also has close ties with Greece which is a major trading partner for Northern Macedonia. The country also maintains close ties with other European countries such as Germany, France, Italy and Austria. These countries have provided financial assistance to Northern Macedonia as well as technical support in areas such as infrastructure development and economic reform. Northern Macedonia also enjoys good relations with the United States which has been a major ally of the country since its independence in 1991. The US provides financial aid to Northern Macedonia through various organizations such as USAID and provides military assistance through NATO programs. Northern Macedonia’s relationship with Russia is somewhat more complicated due to Moscow’s opposition to NATO expansion in the region; however, there are still strong cultural ties between the two countries which have resulted in increased trade between them over recent years. On the international stage, Northern Macedonia is an active member of various organizations such as the United Nations, OSCE and Council of Europe which it uses to promote its interests abroad. The country also participates in various regional initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Balkans region such as “The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe” which was established by European Union countries in 1999. Overall, Northern Macedonians are proud of their small nation’s ability to maintain strong foreign relations despite its size and location within Europe’s turbulent geopolitical landscape. The country continues to seek opportunities for closer integration into international organizations while strengthening existing ties with both traditional allies and new partners around the world. See relationshipsplus for Macedonia defense and foreign policy.