Macedonia, Kosovo Sign Trade Accord

2 September 2005 -- Macedonia and Kosovo signed a trade agreement yesterday in Skopje that will abolish tariffs on most Macedonian exports to the UN-administered Serbian province.

Officials from Macedonia, Kosovo, and the United Nations agreed to the deal, which means there will be no customs duties on exports from Kosovo to Macedonia. Most Macedonian goods exported to Kosovo will also be free from tariffs.

The economic situation in Kosovo is still poor six years after a NATO bombing campaign pushed Serbian troops from the province. Estimates put unemployment in Kosovo at more than 50 percent.

(AP)