Macedonia

SAFETY: fair
The situation has been steadily improving for several years, but ethnic and social tensions remain beneath the surface and periodically resurface. It is therefore advisable to avoid getting caught up in demonstrations and marches, which can degenerate into clashes with the police. Petty crime is at normal levels.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM: fair
Although 40% of roads, practically the entire secondary network, are unpaved, the road system is nonetheless in acceptable condition. Watch out for livestock, carts and tractors, which can cause sudden hold-ups or accidents. The rail network is largely obsolete, but improvement works are planned. International air links are good.

Main airports: Skopje

ACCOMMODATION: adequate
There is a good choice of accommodation in the capital, far less in the rest of the country.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) – Location: Europe, Balkans. Borders: Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, Albania to the west – Time zone: UTC +1, as in Italy; daylight saving time applies – Area: 26,000 sq km – Capital: Skopje – Population: 2,056,000 – Religion: 64.7% Orthodox, 33.3% Muslim, 2% other religions – Languages: Macedonian and Albanian; English and Serbo-Croat are understood – Measurements: metric system.

CURRENCY: Macedonian denar (MKD). Sums over 2,000 euros must be declared on entry. - Credit cards: the major cards are generally accepted – Exchange: bring euros; changing money is easy.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V, 50 Hz – Sockets: types C and F (bring an adaptor).

DOCUMENTS: valid passport. No entry visa is required for tourist stays of up to 3 months – Driving: Italian driving licence – Car: for Italian vehicles, Italian third-party insurance is sufficient.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 00389 – GSM: extensive network covering the whole country. Standard GSM 900/1800. Local operators: T-Mobile Macedonia and Dooel Skopje – Internet: available in the main cities – Web domain: .mk – Emergency numbers: police 192, fire brigade 193, ambulance 194, roadside assistance 196.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: the use and dealing of narcotics, and incitement to use them, are punishable by 1 to 10 years' imprisonment. Sexual offences and violence against minors are punishable by 3 months to 5 years in prison. Homosexuality is legal and the age of consent is 16.

HEALTH: no compulsory vaccinations are required. Air pollution in Skopje is high, and in the north of the country there is a risk of groundwater contamination owing to the lack of treatment plants. Local hospital facilities are below Western European standards.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year's Day; Orthodox Christmas; Orthodox New Year; 8 March, Women's Day; Orthodox Easter; 1 May, Labour Day; 24 May, Saints Cyril and Methodius; 2 August, Ilinden (National Day); 8 September, Independence Day; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Fri 8.00-20.00 – Banks: Mon-Fri 8.00-19.00, Sat 8.00-12.00 – Shops: Mon-Fri 8.00-20.00

CLIMATE: the eastern regions and the Vardar river valley enjoy a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters; the western and northern regions have a temperate continental climate with cold winters and sometimes very hot summers.

Table of monthly max/min temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy and Consulate of Macedonia
Via Bruxelles 73-75 – 00198 Rome – Tel. 06/84241109 – Fax 06/84241131
E-mail: macedonia@amb-rm.it

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN MACEDONIA

Italian Embassy
Villa Skaperda – Ulica Osma Udarna Brigada 22 – Skopje – Tel. 00389/2/3236500 – Fax 00389/2/3236505
Web: ambskopje.esteri.it – E-mail: segreteria.skopje@esteri.it