Size: 25,713 sq km

Capital: Skopje

Ethnic groups: Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 est.)

Official languages: Macedonian, Albanian
Official regional languages: Turkish, Romani, Serbian, Bosnian, Aromanian

Religions: Macedonian Orthodox 64.8%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.4%, other and unspecified 1.5% (2002 est.)

Currency: Denar ( 1 Euro-61,5 Denars)

Government type: parliamentary republic

Location: Macedonia is a land lock situated in Southeast Europe, bordering Bulgaria to the East, Greece to the South, Serbia, Kosovo to the north, and Albania to the west.

Independence: 8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)

In the final Declaration of the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008, the Alliance decided that the country should receive an invitation to join after resolving the name issue with Greece.  The declarations of the following NATO Summits (Lisbon 2010, Chicago 2012, Wales 2014, and Warsaw 2016) reiterated the Bucharest formulation that the Alliance would extend an invitation to NATO membership immediately after reaching a mutually acceptable name solution within the UN.

In order for the process of the country's integration into NATO to proceed smoothly, on 11 February 2020 the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia,  unanimously ratified the North Atlantic Treaty, followed on 20 March 2020 by the signing of the instrument for ratification of the Accession Protocol for NATO membership by the President of the Republic.

Our security policy sticks strategic to the following determinations in order to accomplish these goals:

 
The political defence strategy bases upon:

 
The state maintains a defensive potential and combat readiness of its Armed Forces which function as a deterring factor in case of a potential aggression in accordance with our capabilities and international arrangements.

2.     North Macedonian security is essential for the region, the EU, and neighboring counties because instability can breathe organized crime and lead to security instability. 

 

3.     Capacity building of the civil service to implement the EU reforms are vital. With the lack of capacity, there is a gap between governmental ambition and reality on the ground. 

 

4.     North Macedonia will continue peacefully solving the security challenges, as it has solved all the significant challenges since the beginning of its independence. 

-Determined and non-selective fight against organized crime and corruption, reforms aimed at the rule of law and building independent institutions;

-Modernization of the Ministry of Interior and strengthening of the capacities for impartial and non-discriminatory implementation of the laws;

-Increasing the level of public safety, including road traffic safety;

-Preventing cross-border crime and illegal migration and readmission control, and achieving the right to asylum;

-Quality preparation of the national version of European Union law

-Building a capable state with strong institutions that guarantee order and the rule of law;

 -Promoting gender equality in all areas of social life and inclusion of the gender perspective in creating policies and budgets;

-Establishment of common standards for the development of cyber security;

-Upgrading the telecommunication and information system of the Ministry of Interior.

 

 The president of the state, according to the Constitution, is also the commander of the army forces and is the president of the Security Council. The president of the state is elected in general, direct elections. He/she has a mandate of five years and he/she cooperates with the executive power, more precisely with the Government in building, defining, and implementing foreign policy. The Government, on the other hand, proposes laws to the Assembly. It defines and proposes the budget, conducts the country's internal and foreign policy, and determines and organizes it. It also monitors the operation of the state administration bodies and the state administration.

 
The President of the Republic of North Macedonia represents the Republic and is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

The President of the Republic performs his rights and duties on the basis and within the scope of the Constitution and the laws.

The President of the Republic is elected in general and direct elections, in a secret vote, and has a five-year term.

Prior to assuming office, the President of the Republic gives a solemn declaration before the Assembly, obliging himself to respect the country’s Constitution and the laws.

Defense and security

In the field of defense and security, in accordance with his constitutional and legal competencies, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of North Macedonia, appoints and dismisses the Chief of General Staff of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, and appoints and dismisses generals. He/she is also President of the Security Council of the Republic of North Macedonia and appoints three of the members of the Council. The President also appoints and dismisses the Director of the Intelligence Agency.

 

In the exercise of his competencies in the field of defense, the President of the Republic of North Macedonia and Commander-in-Chief of the Army:

 

·        adopts a defense strategy of the Republic;

·        adopts a defense plan of the Republic;

·        adopts an assessment of the possible military and other dangers that threaten the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic;

·        prepares documents for the functioning of the President in a state of war;

·        prescribes the measures of readiness and orders their implementation;

·        prescribes the organization and formation of the Army;

·        adopt documents for the use of the Army and orders its deployment;

·        gives consent to the documents for the development of the Army;

·        determines the measures for increasing the combat readiness of the Army and orders their implementation;

·        orders mobilization of the Army;

·        prescribes the command in the Army;

·        adopt regulations related to combat readiness, armed fight, and mobilization of the Army;

·        appoints senior officers in formation positions, generals and promotes and dismisses generals;

·        appoints and dismisses defense attaches and military representatives upon the proposal of the Minister of Defense.

In performing his functions in the field of defense, the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Army adopts bylaws.

The President of the Republic orders the participation of the Army in removing the consequences of the crisis, state of emergency or war.

The President is actively involved in all security processes within his competence, striving to address security issues in accordance with the latest modern security trends.

 

The Security Council is the highest advisory body in the Republic of North Macedonia that considers issues related to the security and defense of the Republic and provides suggestions to the Assembly and the Government.

President Pendarovski’s commitment, as President of the Security Council, is for the Council to meet regularly, once every three months, inviting both government and opposition representatives.

The manner of work of the Security Council of the Republic of North Macedonia, the manner of exercising the rights and fulfilling the duties of the members of the Council, convening and holding sessions, implementing the positions taken, initiatives raised and given opinions and proposals, informing about its work, as well as other issues related to the organization and manner of work of the Council, are determined in the Rules of Procedure of the Security Council of the Republic of North Macedonia.

The Council sessions are closed. In certain cases, the sessions may be public, as decided by the President of the Council.