an Future or PEI [Fijat
CANOSKI]; Party of Free Democrats or PSD [Ljubco JORDANOVSKI];
Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Zoran ZAEV (until
May 2009)]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav
IVANOV-ZINGO]; Sun-Coalition for Europe [Radmila SKERINSKA]
(includes SDSM, NSDP, LDP, Liberal Party and smaller parties); Union
of Romas or SR [Shaban SALIU]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE
[Nezdet MUSTAFA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of
Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; Trade Union of Education, Science
and Culture [Dojcin CVETANOSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor
PETROV]

International organization participation:

BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran JOLEVSKI
chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131
consulate(s) general: New York, Southfield (Michigan); note -
consulate general in Chicago is due to open in 2008

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Philip T. REEKER
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State,
7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 311-6180
FAX: [389] 2 311-7103

Flag description:

a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of
the red field

Economy
Macedonia

Economy - overview:

At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed
of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal
output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended
transfer payments from the central government and eliminated
advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence
of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized Yugoslavia, and a
Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's
constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996.
GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. In 2001, during a
civil conflict, the economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade,
intermittent border closures