Macedonia, a republic in the communist-era Yugoslav federation, gained independence in 1992 and was known internationally as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Since then, however, the country’s existence and legitimacy has been threatened on several levels.
Greece objects to the name “Macedonia,” arguing that it implies a territorial and cultural claim to the Greek region of the same name.
Bulgaria contends that the Macedonian language is a dialect of Bulgarian.
And internally, poor relations between the Macedonian Slav majority and the ethnic Albanian minority have raised doubts about the country’s long-term viability.
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2010&country=7866Macedonia (2010)
Capital: Skopje
Population: 2,049,000
Political Rights Score: 3
Civil Liberties Score: 3
Status: Partly Free --------------------------------------------------------------
Bulgaria (2010)
Capital: Sofia
Population: 7,590,000
Political Rights Score: 2
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free -----------------------------------------------------------
Greece (2010)
Capital: Athens
Population: 11,277,000
Political Rights Score: 1
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Serbia (2010)
Capital: Belgrade
Population: 7,322,000
Political Rights Score: 2
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free
------------------------------------------------
Romania (2010)
Capital: Bucharest
Population: 21,474,000
Political Rights Score: 2
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free
----------------------------------------------------------
Turkey (2010)
Capital: Ankara
Population: 74,816,000
Political Rights Score: 3
Civil Liberties Score: 3
Status: Partly Free
--------------------------------------------------------------
Albania (2010)
Capital: Tirana
Population: 3,196,000
Political Rights Score: 3
Civil Liberties Score: 3
Status: Partly Free