After vote Macedonian promises better Greek ties

By Kole Casule and Adam Tanner

SKOPJE (Reuters) - Macedonia's ruling party presidential candidate was set for a landslide victory on Sunday and said he could repair relations with neighbour Greece which have hampered its efforts to join NATO and the European Union.

Gjorge Ivanov, 49, who has never run for office before, was ahead by about two to one against former Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski of the main opposition SDSM party with more than half of the votes counted.

"Our first task will be to resolve the name issue with our southern neighbour Greece," Ivanov told Reuters. "I am sure we can find common interest and compromise."

"I am sure Greece will be cooperative on the issue."

Macedonia applied for EU membership in 2005 but has not advanced since then and Greece has blocked its NATO application in a 17-year-old dispute over Macedonia's name, which it shares with the northern-most Greek province.

In a vote officials hope will show the Balkan state is ready to join the EU and NATO, observers said the day passed off peacefully with only minor irregularities.

"Overall the process seems to be working normally," said Erwan Fouere, European Union ambassador to Macedonia.

Once the poorest Yugoslav republic, Macedonia declared independence in 1992 and was spared the bloodshed that was unleashed between Bosnians, Serbs and Croats.