Survey of the Macedonian Decorations

Abstract

The first decorations used in today’s Republic of Macedonia are from the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia (later SFRY). The first authentic decoration of People‘s Republic of Macedonia is the Ilinden memorial medal from 1951 as a decoration of the Republic. After the independence of the Yugoslav Republics, Croatia and Slovenia had their first decorations in 1992, while the Republic of Macedonia only 13 years later, although the first law on decorations was passed in 1995. The path to the realisation of these state symbols was arduous. The law of 2002 laid the foundations of the Macedonian award system, which actually started with the defining the design and materials from which the orders and medals are made in 2005. The system has six orders: Order of the Republic of Macedonia; “September 8”; “Ilinden - 1903”; for merits for Macedonia; for military merits and “Saint Mother Teresa”. And five medals: for merit for the Republic of Macedonia; for bravery; of honour, “Eternal sun” and for participation in humanitarian or peace operations outside the territory of the Republic of Macedonia; and a Charter of the Republic of Macedonia. Out of 11 orders and medals, 25% are undefined, and the system has too few decoration. The awarding of orders and medals is extremely restrictive. This article deals with the Macedonian decorations in a wider context.