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 believe that the stars represent each territory that extremist Albanians desire to fashion into a "Greater Albania" ^[6]. The design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings, and is hence a form of jargon. ... The flags of the U.S. states exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles. ... For other uses, see Flag (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links FIAV_010000. ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Assembly of Kosovo (Serbian Скупштина Косова; Albanian Kuvendi i Kosovës) is the highest provisional self-government and representative and law making institution of Kosovo. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Anthem:  Serbia() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Slovak, Romanian, Croatian, Rusyn 1 Albanian 2 Demonym Serbian Government Parliamentary Democracy  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica    -  First state 7th century   -  Serbian Kingdom3 1217   -  Serbian Empire 1345   -  Independence lost... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Flag (disambiguation). ... UN redirects here. ... The Coat of Arms of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) are institutions runing Kosovo in cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administrative Mission in Kosovo UNMIK. Resolution 1244 of the United Nations Security Council authorized the Secretary-General to establish an international civil... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ... Languages Serbian Religions Predominantly Serbian Orthodox Christian Related ethnic groups Other Slavic peoples, especially South Slavs See Cognate peoples below (* many Serbs opted for Yugoslav ethnicity) [27] Serbs (Serbian: Срби or Srbi) are a South Slavic people who live mainly in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, to a lesser extent, in... This article is about Gorani, an ethnic group in the Balkans. ... Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Romani people (as a noun, singular Rom, plural Roma; sometimes Rrom, Rroma) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ... Ashkali (also Aschkali, Hashkali, AÅ¡kalije (Ашкалије), HaÅ¡kalije (Хашкалије)) are an Albanian language speaking ethnic minority of Kosovo and Albania. ... Language(s) Bosnian Religion(s) Predominantly Sunni Islam Related ethnic groups Slavs (South Slavs) The Bosniaks or Bosniacs[1] (Bosnian: BoÅ¡njaci, IPA: ) are a South Slavic people, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) and the Sandžak region of Serbia and Montenegro, with a smaller autochthonous population also... The term Greater Albania or Great Albania refers to land which is outside the borders of Albania and Albanian nationalists claim as their own. ...

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). National flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

Flags used by ethnic groups in Kosovo

The population of Kosovo is made up of many ethnic groups including Albanians (97%), Serbs (1%), 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. Languages Serbian Religions Predominantly Serbian Orthodox Christian Related ethnic groups Other Slavic peoples, especially South Slavs See Cognate peoples below (* many Serbs opted for Yugoslav ethnicity) [27] Serbs (Serbian: Срби or Srbi) are a South Slavic people who live mainly in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, to a lesser extent, in... Language(s) Bosnian Religion(s) Predominantly Sunni Islam Related ethnic groups Slavs (South Slavs) The Bosniaks or Bosniacs[1] (Bosnian: Bošnjaci, IPA: ) are a South Slavic people, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) and the Sandžak region of Serbia and Montenegro, with a smaller autochthonous population also... This article is about Gorani, an ethnic group in the Balkans. ... Languages Romany, languages of native region Religion Romanipen, combined with assimilations from local religions Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) This article is about the Indo-Aryan ethnic group. ... Ashkali (also Aschkali, Hashkali, Aškalije (Ашкалије), Haškalije (Хашкалије)) are an Albanian language speaking ethnic minority of Kosovo and Albania. ... For other uses of Turkish, see Turkish (disambiguation). ...

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. Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Nations. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Nations. ... The olive branches symbolise peace. ... The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is an interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United Nations. ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ... The olive branches symbolise peace. ...

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] Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between the Serbian (and previously, the Yugoslav) government and Kosovos largely ethnic-Albanian population. ... Flag of the Socialist Peoples Republic of Albania used from 1946 to 1992 Flag of Albania under German Occupation (1943-1944) The flag of Albania under Italian Occupation (1939-1943) Flag of the Albanian Kingdom (1928-1939) Flag of the Principality of Albania (1914-1925) The national flag of... Languages Serbian Religions Predominantly Serbian Orthodox Christian Related ethnic groups Other Slavic peoples, especially South Slavs See Cognate peoples below (* many Serbs opted for Yugoslav ethnicity) [27] Serbs (Serbian: Срби or Srbi) are a South Slavic people who live mainly in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, to a lesser extent, in... The flag of Serbia is a tricolour with Pan-Slavic colours, with three equal horizontal fields, red on the top, blue in the middle and white on the bottom, and the Coat of Arms of Serbia centered vertically and located left of center by one-seventh of the flags... The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a Balkan state that existed from 1945 to 1992. ...

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] Assembly of Kosovo (Serbian Скупштина Косова; Albanian Kuvendi i Kosovës) is the highest provisional self-government and representative and law making institution of Kosovo. ...

The three proposals selected were forwarded to the Assembly on 4 February 2008.^{[13] [14]} is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 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.^[19] The Flag of Europe consists of a circle of twelve golden (yellow) stars on a blue background. ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Unification Flag is used to represent all of Korea when North and South Korea participate together in sporting events. ...

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. Prof. ... The President of the Republic of Kosovo (Albanian: or Serbian: ) is Head of State of the Republic of Kosovo. ... Ancient Dardania Dardania (Albanian: Dardania;) was an ancient country encompassing southern parts of present-day Kosova (including the area of the modern-day province of Kosovo, since 1999 under UN administration), mostly, but not entirely, western parts of the present-day Republic of Macedonia, and parts of present-day north...

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] National flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...

See also

• List of flags of Kosovo
• Coat of arms of Kosovo
• National anthem of Kosovo
• Flag of Albania

The official logo of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government serves as a de facto coat of arms for Kosovo. ... Flag of the Socialist Peoples Republic of Albania used from 1946 to 1992 Flag of Albania under German Occupation (1943-1944) The flag of Albania under Italian Occupation (1939-1943) Flag of the Albanian Kingdom (1928-1939) Flag of the Principality of Albania (1914-1925) The national flag of...

References

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... [[Media:Italic text]]{| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... [[Media:Italic text]]{| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• "The Comprehensive proposal for Kosovo Status Settlement" by UNOSEK
• http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=05&dd=30&nav_category=93&nav_id=41493