ALBANIA: Kosovo PM says highway to be built between Kosovo and Albanian coast, on visit to Durres

Record ID: 561900

  • Title: ALBANIA: Kosovo PM says highway to be built between Kosovo and Albanian coast, on visit to Durres
  • Date: 23rd June 2008
  • Summary: ROAD SIGN READING 'INDEPENDENCE ROAD'
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABM0XSU5GW2E0DNGN7MJZPSC8B
  • Story Text: The Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has inaugurated a section of a new road from Albania's Durres port, which aims to ease travel and trade between the two countries.
    Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was in the Albanian port city of Durres on Friday (June 20), on his first official visit since the Kosovo Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia in February.
    On his visit to the port, Hashim said his government would start building a highway to link his landlocked country to Albania's coast, adding that Albania's port of Durres on the Adriatic Sea would turn into a key point for the development of Albania, Kosovo and the Balkans.
    Thaci, in Albania to promote cooperation between the two countries, symbolically unveiled a sign naming "Independence" a section of the highway at the exit of Durres port.

    "I feel proud today for the Albanians while we inaugurate this road today," he said.

    "The port of Durres will turn into a key point for the future development of Albania, Kosovo and the region," he added.
    Albania will build a motorway that is designed to shorten the trip from the Kosovo border to Tirana or Durres, to just a few hours instead of the gruelling eight to 10 currently needed. It is hoped the road will revive the economy in northern Albania by boosting tourism and trade.
    During the meeting between the two leaders, the Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha promised Kosovo Tirana's full support in building roads, ports and all the facilities it needed to progress towards NATO and the European Union.
    Thaci said Pristina expected to start construction of Kosovo's section of the road from Vermica to Pristina and on to Merdare in 2008.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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