TIRANA, Mar 25, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Macedonia expects to begin border demarcation talks with Kosovo as soon as possible, a spokesman of the country's government said on Tuesday. 

"We hope that process will start soon," Ivica Bocevski told a press conference. "The talks are of crucial significance for Macedonia, Kosovo and the international community." 

The demarcation of the Kosovo-Macedonia border is one of the preconditions Macedonia has demanded be met if it is to recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia. 

The border was left unmarked in the past due to a dispute between Pristina and Belgrade over its jurisdiction since Kosovo was legally a part of Serbia. 

Kosovo, the breakaway province of Serbia, has been under the UN administration since 1999. 

The ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia on Feb. 17. Belgrade has said the proclamation is null and void. 

"Regional developments are closely monitored, and each decision about Kosovo would be based exclusively on the national interests, " Bocevski said.