Archived Articles

Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

Global Real Estate Project
News Index

Directories
  Int'l Realty
  US Realty

In the history of nations there are no imminent events; basically everything could happen, the point isn't whether something is possible, but rather whether something is probable. In the case of Macedonia, a former Yugoslav republic, in the waiting room for both NATO and the EU, some further future political decentralization may seem increasingly probable solution, although nothing makes this option the only possibility. It's obvious, however, that the problems with the country's name don't make the life there easier. On the contrary, it seems that this country has missed a good opportunity for both European and Atlantic integration, as well as for domestic consolidation. Some further decentralization along ethnic lines may still be avoided, but this option gets slimmer with every day passing.

Macedonia is a multinational state; no matter how it's defined constitutionally and no matter whether the national majority recognizes it. The problems with its European and Atlantic integration, however, seem coming from only one direction, i.e. from the government that represents mainly the interests of this majority. To make the story shorter and easier, Macedonia is currently blocked to join the EU and NATO because of its constitutional name, a name that coincides with the name of one of the Greece's northern regions. A country with such a name, if internationally recognized, would have, the politicians in Athens argue, the right to claim parts of the Greek territory. Therefore a precondition for joining the EU and NATO should be substantial change in the name, so nobody doubts that there is no link whatsoever between this republic and the Greek region under the same name.

People don't readily make large concessions when it comes to their identity, so it isn't strange to see so much reluctance in Skopje regarding the name's issue. This problem, let's repeat it, doesn't concern the ethnic minorities, those who don't look at 'Macedonia' as some sort of identity inspiration and identity confirmation. These minorities, however, at least a third of the entire population, maybe even more, strive too for the country's integration within the EU and NATO. The official reluctance to move over this issue makes them angry; this anger concerns especially the largest minority group, the ethnic Albanians, who may only benefit from the European and Atlantic integration: the falling of borders will solve the Albanian national question without wars and border changes, once and for all.

As far as the biggest threat in the Balkan region was and still is the Serbian nationalism, the West had the interest to keep Macedonia in one piece. With the threat coming from Belgrade gradually disappearing, however, the West gets more and more irritated from the Macedonian reluctance to make substantial compromises. To add up more problems to already existing, the recent Balkan enlargement of the EU (Bulgaria and Romania) is seen in Brussels as not very successful, meaning even if the main problem around Macedonia is solved, the invitation to join the club won't materialize very soon after. By that time, the ethnic minorities may decide to push for more direct relations with Brussels. The further federalization of Macedonia along ethnic lines gets increasingly probable.

Macedonia profile:

• Country name:
  • provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO: 'Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia' or FYROM;
  • short form: Macedonia;
• Area: 25,333 sq.km.
• Population: 2,060 million (July 2008 est.).
• Ethnic groups: Macedonian 64,2%, Albanians 25.2% (2002 census).
• Religious groups: Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%.
• Life expectancy at birth: 74.45 years.
• GDP per capita: purchasing power parity 8,400 (2007 est.).
• GDP real growth rate: 5.1% (2007 est.).
• Population below poverty line: 30% (2005 est.).
• Main trading partners: Serbia, Germany, Russia, Greece, Italy, and Bulgaria.
• Internet users: 400,000 (2007 est.)

(Sources: CIA World Factbook 2008; Reuters)

--------------------

See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Macedonia.