Kosovo launches biometric passports

(PRISTINA) - Kosovo on Monday started issuing biometric passports in the hopes of boosting its chances of obtaining visa-free travel to European Union's Schengen zone for its citizens.

"This is a day of success for the Republic of Kosovo, a day for a European Kosovo," prime minister Hashim Thaci said at the ceremonial issuing of the first biometric passport.

"By issuing the first biometric passport we are fulfilling a very important precondition for Kosovo... in the framework of visa liberalisation," he added.

In its yearly review of EU aspirants, the European Commission announced earlier this month that it would launch a visa dialogue with Kosovo "towards the end of the year".

After the Commission included Albania, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the so-called "white list" of Schengen last year, Kosovo remained the last territory in the western Balkans whose citizens must get a visa to travel to countries in the Schengen area.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognised by more then 80 countries, including the United States and a majority of EU member states.

However, Serbia refuses the move and still considers the breakaway territory as its southern province.