Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Coat of arms of the Republic of Macedonia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The coat of arms of the Republic of Macedonia is composed of a double bent garland of ears of wheat, tobacco leaves and poppy seeds, tied by a ribbon decorated with the pattern of a traditional Macedonian costume. In the centre of an oval frame are depicted a mountain, a lake and a sunrise. At the top of the frame is a five-pointed red star, a traditional symbol of Communism. The coat of arms is said to represent "the richness of our country, our struggle and our freedom".
The emblem was adopted on July 27, 1946 by the People's Assembly of the People's Republic of Macedonia (later the Socialist Republic of Macedonia). It is still in use following the Republic's independence from Yugoslavia in 1992.
Efforts to update the coat of arms have so far failed, due to political disputes over possible replacements. A proposal was put forward 1992 to replace it with the emblem of a gold lion on a red shield, an older symbol of Macedonian nationalism. However, this was rejected on three main grounds:
- Several nationalist parties, notably VMRO-DPMNE, already use that emblem in their party flags;
- Macedonia's ethnic Albanians rejected the emblem on the grounds that it only represents Slavic Macedonians, rather than the nation as a whole;
- The emblem is also used in Bulgarian heraldry.
Because of these problems, the Macedonian parties have agreed to continue using the existing coat of arms until a solution is found. However, the emblem does not appear on the country's passports.
Albania · Andorra · Armenia2 · Austria · Azerbaijan4 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus2 · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia4 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan1 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia1 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey1 · Ukraine · United Kingdom · Vatican City
Dependencies, autonomies and other territories
Abkhazia4 · Adjara2 · Åland · Azores · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Crimea · Faroe Islands · Gibraltar · Guernsey · Isle of Man · Jersey · Kosovo · Madeira · Nagorno-Karabakh2 · Nakhichevan2 · Transnistria · Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus2, 3
1 Has significant territory in Asia. 2 Entirely in West Asia, but considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons. 3 Only recognised by Turkey. 4 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the border between Europe and Asia.