Authorized Access Points and Classification Numbers for Macedonia

The term “Macedonia” refers to four closely related but distinct geographical entities that must be carefully distinguished. First, it refers to the region forming the heartland of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia, which encompassed parts of present-day Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia (see the area enclosed by the line of dots in the map). Second, it refers to the Republic of North Macedonia, or North Macedonia for short, a nation located in the northwestern part of the region of Macedonia (see the orange-colored territory in the map): formerly one of the six constituent republics of Yugoslavia, this state achieved independence in 1991 and was known as the Republic of Macedonia until the adoption of its current name in February 2019. Third, it can refer to Pirin Macedonia, also known as Blagoevgrad Oblast, a region that encompasses the southwestern-most part of Bulgaria (see the green-colored territory enclosed by the line of dots in the map). Finally, it can refer to Greek Macedonia, a region covering most of north-central Greece (see the yellow-colored territory above the lower loop of the line of dots in the map).