Greece was in the wrong when it blocked Macedonia's admission to NATO because of a dispute over the former Yugoslav republic's name, the UN's highest court ruled today.

The 2008 action violated a provisional agreement reached in 1995 to end the long-running row, the International Court of Justice ruled, saying Athens had "breached its obligation."

In 2009 Greece prevented the EU from starting accession talks with Skopje, an official candidate nation since 2005, despite recommendations from the European Commission.

Greece alleges that use of the name Macedonia suggests a territorial claim to the northern Greek province of the same name while Skopje maintains that changing the name would be a denial of its own national identity and language.

Macedonia was admitted to the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name of the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

More than 120 countries including Russia and the United States, however, have recognised the Balkan country under the name of "Republic of Macedonia."

Skopje had asked the ICJ to order Greece to stop objecting to its membership in "any other international, multilateral and regional organisations and institutions."

Ruling
The court however ruled out making such an order, saying it did not consider it necessary.

Greece's foreign ministry said it was "reviewing" Monday's ruling but insisted that it did not directly address the long-running diplomatic wrangle with Skopje over Macedonia's official name, which Athens remains committed to resolving through UN-supervised talks.

"With full respect for the ICJ as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, Greece is reviewing the decision," the ministry said. "Greece will continue to pursue negotiations in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable solution," it said.

"The court's opinion provides a very solid base for establishing our international visibility." Macedonia's Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki said. 

Established in 1945, the ICJ is the UN's highest judicial organ and settles disputes between states.