Macedonians in Cleveland

Submit your Cleveland Macedonian news and events.

Macedonian Patriotic Organization (MPO)

The mission of the Macedonian Patriotic Organization is to:

• Continue to work for human, civil and economic rights for all Macedonians of the world
• Promote and preserve the ethnic traditions, customs and history of our people
• Promote and develop the cultural and social growth of our youth
• Promote and strengthen our Organization.

Tell us about the music, food, holidays, traditions, costumes, language and other qualities that make Macedonians so special.



Macedonia

Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."

In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.

Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of minorities.

Fully implementing the Framework Agreement and stimulating economic growth and development continue to be challenges for Macedonia, although progress has been made on both fronts over the past several years.

(facts courtesy of CIA World Fact Book)

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