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Flag of Kosovo

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See also: List of flags of Kosovo
Kosovo
UseState flag
Proportion2:3[1]
Adopted17 February 2008
DesignBlue with six white stars in an arc above a gold-coloured map of Kosovo in the center.
Designed byMuhamer Ibrahimi

The flag of the Republic of Kosovo was adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo following the unilateral declaration of independence of the Republic of Kosovo from Serbia on 17 February 2008. The flag is partly the result of an international design competition, organized by the United Nations-backed provisional government, which attracted almost a thousand entries. The competition rules insisted that the final design must not use ethnic or national symbols or colour schemes in order to ensure that it represented all citizens of Kosovo. The now-used design is a variant of one proposal designed by Muhamer Ibrahimi. It shows six white stars in an arc above a golden map of Kosovo on a blue field.[2] They are officially meant to symbolize Kosovo's six major ethnic groups:[3] Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma (often grouped with the Ashkali and Egyptians[4]) and Bosniaks. However, some opponents of Kosovar independence believe that the stars represent each territory that extremist Albanians desire to fashion into a "Greater Albania".[5]

The flag of Kosovo resembles the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of colours and shapes used (white stars and yellow shape of the country on a blue field).

Flags used by ethnic groups in Kosovo

The population of Kosovo is made up of many ethnic groups including Albanians, Serbs, Slavic Muslims, Romani, Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians and Turks. Some of the flags used by these ethnic communities are shown below.

Flag use during United Nations administration

Flag of the United Nations

During administration by the United Nations Kosovo had no provincial flag. Whenever an official flag was needed, the United Nations' flag was flown.

International negotiations began in 2006 to determine the final status of Kosovo (See Kosovo status process). Most ethnic-Albanians would otherwise display the Albanian flag, whilst Serbs would use the Serbian flag. There is no current or historic national, provincial or regional flag that represents Kosovo's territory. However an Albanian flag with the red star outlined in yellow is erroneously reported as a historical flag while in fact this was the flag of the ethnic Albanian community in Socialist Yugoslavia (mainly in Kosovo).[7]

Competition for a new flag

A competition for a new flag, held in June 2007, received 993 entries. Under the terms of UN talks, all such symbols would have to reflect the multi-ethnic nature of Kosovo,[1] avoiding the use of the Albanian or Serbian double-headed eagles or the use of solely red and black or red, blue and white colour schemes. Additionally, all entries had to be rectangular and have a 2:3 proportion. A total of 700 proposals met these criteria. A group of Kosovo politicians and experts known as the "Unity Team" selected three designs which were then voted on by the Assembly of Kosovo (with a two-thirds majority required for approval), when independence was declared after the status talks.[8]

The three proposals selected were forwarded to the Assembly on 4 February 2008.[9][10]

The proposals and final choice

  • Blue field with a white map of Kosovo surrounded by five stars. The stars vary in size and represent the different ethnic groups that reside in Kosovo. The largest star would represent ethnic Albanians. Inspired by the Flag of Europe.[10]
  • A vertical tricolour of black, white and red.[11]
  • A vertical tricolour of black, white and red with a spiral (Dardanian symbol of the rotating sun) in the center of the white stripe.[11]

The assembly voted on 17 February 2008 to use a variant of the first proposal. The modified version has an additional star, makes the stars equal in size, switches the colors of the stars and map, makes the map bigger, and arranges the stars in a curve above the map.[2] The flag of Kosovo is only the fourth flag to feature a map. Cyprus's current flag, as well as Bangladesh's original flag and Cambodia's flag under UNTAC were the first three. For sporting events, the Korean Unification Flag uses a map of the Korean peninsula. The use of the Kosovo flag is regulated by law "Law on the Use of Kosovo State Symbols".[12]

  • Final flag, as chosen by Assembly on 17 February 2008
    Final flag, as chosen by Assembly on 17 February 2008
  • Original proposal of the adopted flag design.
    Original proposal of the adopted flag design.
  • Alternative proposal
    Alternative proposal
  • Alternative proposal
    Alternative proposal

Other proposals

The "Flag of Dardania"

Ibrahim Rugova, the first president of Kosovo introduced the "flag of Dardania" on October 29, 2000. The flag was blue, inscribed with a red disc with a golden ring. Inside the red disc is the Albanian eagle. The eagle is holding a ribbon with the legend "Dardania" inscribed. Dardania is the name of an ancient region in the same general area as Kosovo, but is not officially recognized by any international power.[13] This flag did not gain much popularity,[14] but was occasionally used at cultural and sports events during the UNMIK period and was also used at Rugova's funeral to cover his coffin.[13]

Prior to the declaration of independence, Kosovans displayed a flag featuring a map of Kosovo against a blue and yellow background, similar to the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[15]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Kosovo.

References

  1. ^ a b "Kosovo Unity Team announces the COMPETITION FOR THE FLAG AND EMBLEM OF KOSOVO" (PDF). Kosovo Unity Team. 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
  2. ^ a b Parliament adopted the flag of Kosovo state, Kosovapress, Priština, 17 February 2008.
  3. ^ Reeves, Terri Bryce (2008-02-19). "Former Kosovar leader rejoices from afar". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  4. ^ Salihu, Mevlyde (2006-10-19). "OSCE Kosovo Mission helps push for greater integration of minorities". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  5. ^ Judah, Tim (2008-02-22). "Could Balkan break-up continue?". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ a b Thorpe, Nick (2007-06-04). "Kosovo contest for state symbols". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Heimer, Željko (2007-09-29). "Kosovo (Province, Serbia) - Erroneous report of the flag of Kosovo". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  8. ^ "Kosovo Starts Selection of its Future Flag and Emblem". Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ "Priština daily speculates on indepedence date". Beta. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ a b "Kosovo symbols after declaration of independence". New Kosova Report. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ a b Charter, David (2008-02-11). "Wanted: new flag and anthem for Kosovo". Times Online. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "2008/03-L038 Law on the Use of Kosovo State Symbols" (PDF). Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  13. ^ a b "Kosovo (Province, Serbia) - Dardania (flag of uncertain status)". Flags of the World. 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  14. ^ "Kosovo Television Debate: Kosovar flags and symbols". RTK. Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. 2005-12-21. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ Pancevski, Bojan (2008-02-26). "Call for calm as Kosovo independence looms". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-08-14. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

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