It was published in 2009 by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and edited by the Lexicographical Center,[1] where 260 associates were involved in its preparation under the guidance of chief editor Blaže Ristovski.
[3] The issuance of the encyclopedia caused a storm of protest due to its content, and its authors have been subjected to severe criticism.
Such reactions arose in the neighbouring EU members Greece and Bulgaria, as well as in Kosovo and Albania[4] and even the American Embassy in Skopje protested.
[4] Blaže Ristovski, the chief editor of the encyclopedia, faced calls to resign and finally got removed from the post.
[7] The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts[8] had planned for an expanded edition covering areas not addressed in the two-volume set, which would then be translated into English.