Source: Xinhuanet

04-25-2007 09:40

Albania said Tuesday it is looking for a commercial loan to help fund construction of a road segment that leads to neighboring Kosovo, local media reported.

Albania needs an additional 200-230 million euros (272-312 million U.S. dollars) over the next two years for the project, the finance ministry said in a statement.

A U.S.-Turkish joint venture won a 418 million euros contract with Albania in October last year to build a 60-kilometer road segment, including a 6-kilometer tunnel.

The road segment is part of a 170-kilometer highway to Kosovo, connecting the port city of Durres in Albania with the Morina crossing point at the border with Kosovo.

When the project is finished, it would reduce travel time to Kosovo, a UN-run Serbian province where ethnic Albanians account for 90 percent of its 2 million population, from six hours to two.

 

Editor:Li Yang