TIRANA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Macedonia's Foreign Ministry expressed on Thursday the country's concern over the claim by a Greek clergyman who said that parts of Macedonia belonged to Greece and should be returned.

    Anthimos, Greek Orthodox Church Metropolitan bishop of Thessaloniki in northern Greece, has called for a campaign to wrestle away from Macedonia the area of Bitola, 180 kilometers south of capital Skopje, saying it belonged to Greece.

    "It is disturbing to hear the Metropolitan's extremist speech, "Macedonia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

    The statement pointed out that Anthimos is a top religious figure in northern Greece, and that he wielded a big influence on Greek political scene.

    The foreign ministry said that it expects the Greek authorities to "immediately and unequivocally condemn such speech, which pose an indirect threat to the territorial integrity of Macedonia."

    Greece has been opposed to the name of the Republic of Macedonia since the country broke away from Yugoslavia in 1991.

    Greece says the name of Macedonia implies a claim the tiny western Balkan country on the northern Greek province of Macedonia and could destabilize the region.

    Instead, it asks Macedonia to use the name of "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" or FYROM, in short, under which the country joined the U.N. in 1993.