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Flag of Kosovo

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See also: List of flags of Kosovo
Kosovo
UseState flag
Proportion2:3[1]
AdoptedFebruary 17, 2008
DesignBlue with six white stars in an arc above a gold-coloured map of Kosovo in the center.

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] [3] They are officially meant to symbolize Kosovo's six major ethnic groups[4]: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma (often grouped with the Ashkali and Egyptians[5]) and Bosniaks. However, some opponents of Kosovar independence feel that the stars represent each territory that extremist Albanians desire to fashion into a "Greater Albania" [6].

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 (92%), Serbs (4%), Slavic Muslims (Bosniaks and Gorani) (2%), REA communities (Romani, Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians (1%) and Turks (1%). Members of these communities use a variety of flags.

Flag use during United Nations administration

Flag of the United Nations, used for official and government purposes in Kosovo until February 17, 2008.

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).[10]


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,[11] 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.[12]

The three proposals selected were forwarded to the Assembly on 4 February 2008.[13] [14]

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.[15]
  • A vertical tricolour of black, white and red. [16]
  • A vertical tricolour of black, white and red with a spiral (Dardanian symbol of the rotating sun) in the center of the white stripe.[17] [18]

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's use of a map of Kosovo makes it only the fourth country to have a map of the country on its flag. 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.[19]

Other proposals

Ibrahim Rugova, the first president of Kosovo introduced the "flag of Dardania" on October 29, 2000. The flag with the Albanian eagle bears the legend "Dardania", the name of an ancient region in the same general area as Kosovo, but is not officially recognized by any international power.[20] This flag did not gain much popularity.[21] but was occasionally used at cultural and sports events during the UNMIK period. It was also used at Rugova's funeral.

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.[22]

  • The "Flag of Dardania", proposed by Ibrahim Rugova, occasionally flown at sporting events and festivities during the UNMIK period.[23]
    The "Flag of Dardania", proposed by Ibrahim Rugova, occasionally flown at sporting events and festivities during the UNMIK period.[23]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Kosovo.

References

  1. ^ Competition for the flag and emblem of Kosovo
  2. ^ a b Parliament adopted the flag of Kosovo state, Kosovapress, Priština, 17 February 2008.
  3. ^ Image Not Available ... - Yahoo! News Photos
  4. ^ Reeves, Terri Bryce (February 19, 2008). "Former Kosovar leader rejoices from afar". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  5. ^ OSCE Kosovo Mission helps push for greater integration of minorities
  6. ^ Could Balkan Break-up continue? BBC News
  7. ^ a b Kosovo contest for state symbols by BBC
  8. ^ Bosnia and Herzegovina - Flag of 1992
  9. ^ Slow exodus threatens Kosovo’s mountain Gorani « Romano Them
  10. ^ Kosovo (Province, Serbia)
  11. ^ http://www.kajtazi.info/flag-emblem-kosovo.pdf
  12. ^ BIRN
  13. ^ B92 - News - Politics - Priština daily speculates on indepedence date
  14. ^ New Kosova Report, 6. Februar 2008, Kosovo symbols after declaration of independence
  15. ^ Kosovo's countdown plays out to Beethoven - Yahoo! News
  16. ^ Si do te duket flamuri i Kosoves? - Faqja 14 - Forumi Shqiptar
  17. ^ The Christian Science Monitor, 8th February 2008, With independence looming, Kosovo to pick a flag
  18. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article3352529.ece Times Online, Wanted: new flag and anthem for Kosovo
  19. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080215/ts_afp/serbiakosovopoliticscountdown_080215105431
  20. ^ Kosovo (Province, Serbia)
  21. ^ BIRN
  22. ^ Call for Calm as Kosovo Independence Looms
  23. ^ KOSOVAREPORT: Kosovo TV reports on debate over new statehood symbols
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