"If one keeps dividing the Albanians, they are not only contributing to their backwardness but also causing Macedonia to be permanently destabilized," said an analyst.

Gruevski called the country's first snap poll since independence in the wake of Greece's veto on Macedonia's NATO bid over name dispute between the two countries at an alliance summit in Bucharest.

Greece objects to the country's name of 'Macedonia,' saying it implies territorial claims to the northern Greek province with the same name. But Greece is a member of both NATO and the EU, while Macedonia is an official candidate for membership both organizations. And Macedonia's way to the two clubs must pass through its southern neighbor.

So the new government must conclude protracted and bitter negotiations with southern neighbor Greece over Macedonia's name. But polls show Macedonians would refuse to give up their identity and change the name to appease Athens, and even Gruevski has rejected a name change and vowed to put the issue to a referendum.

Apart from getting the talks with Greece back on track, Gruevski has pledged his new government would concentrate on fighting poverty, crime, corruption and high unemployment.

Macedonia is the poorest of the former Yugoslavia's six republics. Corruption is rampant, joblessness is about 35 percent and the average per capita income is the equivalent of about 400 US dollars a month.

Sunday's election was marred by violence and irregularities. One man was killed and several others wounded. The unrest also dealt a blow to Macedonia who had already fallen behind in terms of attracting foreign investment, partly due to the general image of the Balkans as an unstable area.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2008)