NATO and EU membership is in Macedonia's national interest and we are doing everything to achieve this. However, our accession has been delayed for too long due to the name row. Macedonia is ready for talks in settling this dispute, but they require two sides. The solution should not harm Macedonian identity and statehood, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski says in an interview with German daily "Die Welt".

"Our NATO and EU accession has been delayed for too long due to the name row. This is vital for our economy, but also for peace on the Western Balkans. However, our identity is at stake here. Greece disputes our right to name ourselves as we see fit - Macedonia. The International Court of Justice is on our side, ruling that we can join all international institutions under our name, which we chose after the breakup of former Yugoslavia, one in line with our history", stresses PM Gruevski.

Asked if something has changed since the Papademos government has taken over in Greece, Gruevski says there have not been any changes.

"Unfortunately, I have to say no. The new Greek PM has clearly said that the name settlement is not in his agenda. He probably has enough problems as it is. Nothing is budging. But, we continue to have hopes", says the PM.

Gruevski adds there is no other plan for the dispute's settlement besides talks.

"The Americans attempted to do something within their Balkan policy, but failed. There were also contacts on the part of the United Nations. However, there is no breakthrough on the horizon", he says.

According to Gruevski, EU membership is important for the country's economy, but one cannot compromise over the country's defining and statehood.

He says Germany is Macedonia's main economic partner, providing enormous assistance, and added, "we are successfully exporting wine, agriculture products, metals and textile, because we are price-competitive".

Gruevski stresses the name row has no effect on economic relations with Greece, which is Macedonia's third business partner.

"Increasing number of Greek companies want to invest on our side of the border. This is based on lower salaries, but also due to the lack of bureaucratic barriers, which halt industrial development", underlines PM Gruevski in the interview with "Die Welt".