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Macedonia is pondering a name change to join Nato and stave off growing fears of Russian interference, according to an interview given by the country's foreign minister.

Nikola Dimitrov, who took office two weeks ago after a long period of political turmoil in the country, told the Financial Times the country was considering fresh proposals on its provisional name but that any change would be subject to approval by referendum.

He will also meet Greek ministers this week to calm tensions that have rumbled between the two neighbours over naming disputes for more than 25 years.

“I will ask Greece to reconsider what kind of neighbour they want — do they want a stable, friendly country that offers hope for democracy and justice?” he was quoted by the FT as saying.

“If we are a good neighbour, then hopefully political forces in Greece will realise this is a historic opportunity."

Macedonia has been embroiled in a bitter row with Athens over its title ever since the small Balkan state declared independence in the early 1990s, with the Greeks furious over the clash with their northern province of the same name.

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It joined the United Nations under the provisional title Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia but the country is officially known by the preferred Republic of Macedonia and in 2008, the dispute saw Greece veto Nato membership for the country.

Former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, ousted last year after a wiretapping scandal that saw the EU broker tense crisis talks, stoked claims of cultural appropriation during his decade in power by naming motorways and airports after ancient-Greek hero Alexander the Great.

Concerns of Russian influence have mounted in the Balkan region after fingers pointed at the Kremlin for an alleged coup attempt in nearby Montenegro in October 2016. Moscow denies responsibility.

Nearby Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia have acceded to Nato in recent years, but prospective membership of the Balkan states still to join the alliance - including the formerly war-torn Bosnia - is fiercely opposed by Russia.

The Standard has contacted the Macedonian foreign ministry for comment.