PRISTINA, Kosovo-Citizens of Kosovo, the world's newest self-proclaimed nation, lined up for hours Wednesday to receive the fledgling republic's first passports.

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci handed out the first of the new blue passports emblazoned with the six yellow stars from Kosovo's flag signifying the country's six major ethnic groups.

First up: Teuta Begolli, 28, from Pristina.

"I never thought I'd be the first one to get the passport of the world's newest country," Begolli said after receiving her passport. "I'm honored and happy."

Kosovo's citizens will be able to use the passports in the 43 countries that have recognized Kosovo's February declaration of independence from Serbia.

The previous U.N. travel documents will remain valid in countries that do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

The passports cost 25 euros (US$39) for the application and the document.

The ethnic Albanian leadership of Kosovo had declared independence, over Serbia's objections, after U.N.-mediated talks on the province's future fell through last year.

Serbia, which considers Kosovo its religious and historic heartland, has rejected the move as illegal, and minority Serbs living in Kosovo's north have ignored the declaration of independence.

Traditional Serbian ally Russia also opposed Kosovo's declaration. And while the U.S. and most EU nations rushed to recognize Kosovo, some EU members, including Spain and Romania, have hesitated to follow suit out of fears that Kosovo could inspire separatist movements within their own countries.

U.N. officials in Kosovo say they will no longer issue Kosovo travel documents.