The agreement enabling Macedonia to join the South Stream gas pipeline is in its final stage. It has been harmonized and it is expected to be ratified first by Russia and then by the Macedonian Government.

This was announced Thursday by Deputy PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski after attending the promotion of the project for construction of a new school building replacing the existing one in Zelezara settlement in Skopje.

"During our visit to Moscow the agreement was fully harmonized with Gazprom company. It is expected Russia to ratify it any moment now and then Macedonia will ratify the document as well" he stated.

The draft-agreement on Macedonia's participation in the South Stream project was submitted in July 2012. The Russian company has decided Macedonia to be included in the gas pipeline with a branch, and not as a transit, which was considered to be the most economical solution.

The construction of South Stream gas pipeline kicked off in December 2012. The first commercial gas deliveries are expected in 2015 once the Euro 25 billion investment is completed. Russian natural gas will be transported in the 3,600 km pipeline passing through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy, while other countries will join through branches.