North Macedonia

 

Once part of Yugoslavia, North Macedonia, after the 1991 breakup, became known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Just plain and simple Macedonia was the preferred choice, and would have been fine but for the objections of Greece. The northern region of Greece is an area also known as Macedonia. But more than a regional place name, the term Macedonia, the Greeks argued, was distinctly unique to Greek history. The Greek concerns were largely over cultural appropriation, and with some justification since ln 2011, the FYRM government erected a 24 meter (80 ft) tall sculpture to the warrior king of Macedonia, Alexander the Great. After more than 25 years of UN brokered negotiations the Macedonia naming dispute finally ended in 2019 and FYRM/Macedonia officially became the Republic of North Macedonia.

The Alexander monument in the capital city of Skopje is only one of 284 statues which decorate the central district. All of these statues were part of a government redevelopment project designed to attract tourists to this city. While the project was officially slated for completion in 2014 the city continues to add more sculptures both classical and contemporary, and now in Macedonia, Skopje is known as the City of Sculptures.

Facing this hamburger and sausage stand, is the figure of Mother Teresa. The nearby Mother Teresa House and gift shop, was built to pay homage to the Saint of Calcutta, here in the city of her birth. However, spending 2 million Euro on a monument to the humble nun who chose a life of poverty and service to the poorest of the poor somehow seems wrong. Perhaps honoring her memory with a hospital, clinic or hospice in her name would have been more appropriate.