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The Republic of Macedonia was a
member of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until its break-up in 1991-92.
Macedonia announced its intention to seek independence from Yugoslavia in September 1991. This was unilaterally declared in January 1992, although international recognition was not achieved until September 1995.
The delay for international recognition was mainly due to neighbouring Greece, who objected to the new republic calling itself Macedonia and to the design of the new republics national flag.
Greece already had a province called Macedonia and, among other things, feared by calling themselves
Macedonia it implied the new republic had intentions to extend its border to include Greek Macedonia.
Greece also strenuously objected to the use of Alexander the Great’s Star of Vergina, which appeared on Macedonia’s original flag. They believed the symbol culturally belonged to Greece and was a Greek not a Slavic symbol.
For Macedonia to gain international recognition it had to make some concessions to Greece. Internationally it became known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and removed the Star of Vergina from its national flag. The dispute between the two countries was then mutually resolved in 1995.
The current flag was adopted on the 6th of October 1995. |
