Spain recognizes Kosovo's passport: Minister

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Kosovo's First Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Besnik Bislimi, announced Saturday that Spain recognized the passport of the Republic of Kosovo.

''The good news just keeps going. For our citizens and state,” Bislimi said on social media. “Spain is a destination added to the Schengen area countries where we can travel through liberalization, where an obstacle earlier was the absence of our passport.”

He added that there will be more good news that has a positive impact on citizens.

Kosovo citizens can travel to the Schengen Area without a visa as of Jan. 1 for up to 90 days within 180 days.

Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 is not recognized by five EU members: Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus.

The EU countries in question, except Spain, recognized the Republic of Kosovo travel documents.