It is quite likely that FYRMacedonia will be involved in gas pipeline "South Stream", with a number of options reviewed how to do this, whether as its arm or as transit line, said Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski after Friday's meeting with representatives of Russian energy giant "Gazprom" in Skopje.

According to him, today's talks represented a step forward in the realization of the gas pipeline in FYRMacedonia and it was almost certain that the country would be involved in the project.

"We need to complete the technical analyses on the pipeline profitability, followed by the signing of an inter-state agreement with Russia on its realization", said Vice Premier Stavreski.

The Government has already established company "Makedonija Gas", which will work together with "Gazprom" on the pipeline implementation.

Depending on the gas needs of Kosovo and Albania, a South Stream arm towards FYRMacedonia or a transit route would be constructed.

"Gazprom's arrival in Macedonia will make the country more attractive to investors due to the stability in supply with ecological and cheap energy, but at the same time result in the development of Macedonia's economy", added Stavreski.

"Gazprom" Head of Project Management Department, Leonid Chugunov stressed a period of at least one year was required for technical preparations in order to decide which of the two options to use.

He said Macedonia's advantage lied in the fact that a gasification project has already been developed.