Macedonia (region)

(1) A historical region of Greece, from which Alexander the Great originated. Its symbol was a twelve ray star. It is situated in northern Greece and in antiquity its borders were lying between mountains Babouna and Belles until river Nestos. Skopja was never part of Macedonia. The Greeks living there belonged to the Dorian phylae. One of the most important contributions of the Macedonian people was the ''koine'' language, a mix of Attic and Ionian dialects, that formed the basis of the modern Greek language. During the Byzantine era Thessaloniki, by far the bigest city in Macedonia and the second bigest in modern Greece after Athens, was one of the most brilliant cultural centers of Hellenism.

(2) Republic, formerly part of Yugoslavia. It calls itself the Republic of Macedonia, but Greece refuses to recognise it under that name, on the grounds of Macedonia being a historical region of Greece. As a compromise most nations recognize it as the 'Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia' (F.Y.R.O.M.).

As of mid-2001, Macedonia is involved in a conflict with Albanian rebels, which is threatening to develop into civil war. The rebels demand greater rights for the Albanian minority, but the government has refused to agree to their demands.

From the CIA World Factbook 2000. Not Wikified.

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