WikiPortallus: Flag of Kosovo.html

The flag is the result of an international design competition, organized by the United Nations-backed provisional government, which attracted almost one thousand entries.⁴ The now-used design is a variant of one proposal designed by Muhamer Ibrahimi.⁵ It shows six white stars in an arc above a golden map of Kosovo on a blue field.⁶ They symbolize Kosovo's six major ethnic groups.⁷

Design and use

The flag of Kosovo has a blue background, charged with a map of Kosovo and six stars. The stars are officially meant to symbolize Kosovo's six major ethnic groups:⁸ Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma (often grouped with the Ashkali and Egyptians⁹) and Bosniaks. The ratio of the flag is 2:3. The colors and construction of the Kosovo flag have not been defined yet, however, an official government does give the colors of the flag using CMYK.¹⁰ The use of the Kosovo flag is regulated by the law: "Law on the Use of Kosovo State Symbols".¹¹ However, the Serbian Government objects to the use of the Kosovo flag at international meetings and gatherings.¹²

The flag of Kosovo resembles that of Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of colours and shapes used (white stars and yellow shape of the country on a blue field). The flag is unusual among national flags in using a map as an emblem; the flag of Cyprus is the other.¹³¹⁴

Competition for a new flag

Before the declaration of independence, the United Nations' flag was flown in Kosovo during the period of United Nations administration. A competition for a new flag, held in June 2007, received 993 entries.¹⁵ 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. The Kosovo Symbols Commission eventually selected three designs,⁴ 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.¹⁶

The three proposals selected were forwarded to the Assembly on 4 February 2008.¹⁷

The proposals and final choice

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.⁶

Other proposals

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.¹⁹ This flag did not gain much popularity,²⁰ 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.¹⁹

Prior to the declaration of independence, Kosovars displayed a flag featuring a map of Kosovo against a blue and yellow background, similar to the flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.²¹

Flag of Kosovo.html

Contents

Design and use

Competition for a new flag

The proposals and final choice

Other proposals

See also

References

External links