ABSTRACT
During the 1980s, nationalism grew in the Republic. In 1991 Macedonia followed in the wake of Croatia and Slovania and declared its independence. Macedonia was not affected by the wars that shook the former Yugoslavia, and generally maintained a cautious neutrality while partially identifying with Serbia. Following the decision to break away from the Yugoslavian Federation, demonstrations and riots were instigated by the Serbs who opposed the secession on the one hand, alongside demonstrations held by Albanian nationalists who called for the establishment of an Albanian republic in Yugoslavia-Illyria 5-on the other. The Macedonian authorities handled the riots firmly and restored order quickly. Another crisis in Macedonia’s modern history took place on October 3 1995 when an assassination attempt was made against the President of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov through the use of a car bomb. The presdient survived but the assassination attempt shocked the country’s political system.6
