ATHENS — Addressing the Economist Conference in Athens on Friday, North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev expressed great satisfaction with the signing of an agreement with Greece for the construction of an natural gas pipeline to connect the gas grids of the two countries. The signing of the agreement is to take place on Friday.

"I am very happy that that an agreement will be signed today between Natural Energy Resources of North Macedonia and Greece's DESFA [Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator S.A] for a major project of 100 million euros," Zaev said, noting that North Macedonia's share for the interconnector is 54 million euros.

He said the pipeline will create great opportunities, not just for North Macedonia but also for the Western Balkans in general, as it will be in the diversification of energy sources.

Zaev highlighted the need for cooperation and solidarity in the Western Balkans, especially with member-states of the EU, and said that Greece was the first country to launch "green corridor" projects with North Macedonia.

"I am very grateful that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took the first step for opening the first green corridor and encouraged other European countries to continue and follow Greece's example," he said. He also welcomed 15 new investments worth 100 million euros that were made by Greece during the pandemic, adding that more were in the process of being agreed.