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The Republic of Macedonia is a country in the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe and is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia. It has a total are of 9,928 square miles and borders with Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. The capital and largest city, Skopje, is home to roughly a quarter of the nation's 2.06 million inhabitants. The official language is Macedonian. The Republic of Macedonia is a parliamentary democracy with an executive government. The President is the commander-in-chief of the state armed forces and a president of the state Security Council.

This region's history dates back to antiquity, beginning with the kingdom of Paeonia. In Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 the territory of Macedonian came under Serbian rule. In the aftermath of the First World War, it became incorporated into the Serb-dominated Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After the Second World War this area was re-established as a republic and became the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1963. It declared independence in 1991.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia awards all orders and medals on behalf of the nation. The highest decoration is the Order of the Republic of Macedonia and is awarded to the most outstanding personalities who have special merits in achieving independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia.