Skopje  - Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski on Wednesday has proposed a double-name system to end a years- long dispute with Greece over the use of the name Macedonia.

The two countries have been at loggerheads over the name since the 1990s break-up of former Yugoslavia. The country, which emerged from the break-up, shares its name with a province in neighbouring Greece.

Greece, Gruevski said, "shows no desire to discuss" the matter.

"In that situation a double formula - one name for communication with Greece and another, constitutional name, for all other countries" is the only way, Gruevski said.

The United Nations formally refers to the country as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), while Skopje prefers the name Republic of Macedonia.

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni did not want to comment on Gruevski's proposal, according to media reports in Macedonia.

"Gruevski's attitude shows that he did not understand the message of the international community, and that message is clear - we need a mutually acceptable solution in order for his country to take up a Euro-Atlantic course," Bakoyanni was quoted as saying.

As a result of the dispute, Greece blocked Macedonia's bid to enter NATO earlier this year. Bids by Albania and Croatia were also blocked.

UN special envoy Matthew Nimitz has proposed the name "Republic of Northern Macedonia" and is waiting for the governments in Athens and Skopje to consider it.(dpa)