Albania, Kosovo to remove borders: Premier

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Albanian Prime Minister on Friday said the country will remove borders with Kosovo and use a joint port.

Edi Rama added that the port city of Durres in the Adriatic Sea will become the "de facto port of Kosovo".

"The agreement that we will sign soon to facilitate customs procedures between the two countries leads us to the destination, the transformation of the port of Durres into the de facto port of Kosovo," Rama said.

Rama's remarks came during an official visit of Pristina delegation to the Albanian capital Tirana.

Following the meeting, three customs agreements are expected to be signed in Durres, a railway line, and a hydropower plant for Kosovo to be built in Albania.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, with most UN member states recognizing it as a separate autonomous country from its neighbor.

Belgrade, however, maintains it is a breakaway province and has worked to roll back recognition.