10 Facts on Kosovo Independence

Today Kosovo celebrates the 12th anniversary of independence declared on February 17th 2008 and recognised by 116 states. Kosovo will mark this anniversary with a new government led by Albin Kurti by the Vetevendosje Movement, Remember Our Time. Many planned activities in Pristina and other Kosovo cities will be organised on the 12th anniversary.

Below 10 facts about this marked day for Kosovo Albanians.

1) Kosovo independence has been announced on February 17th 2008, at 15:39 minutes

2) Kosovo flag and logo designer: Muhammad Ibrahim

3) The first to sign Kosovo's declaration of independence were President Fatmir Sejdiu, Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi, as well as the country's prime minister, Hashim Thaci.

4) The first states that recognised Kosovo as a state after declaring independence were: Costa Rica, the US, France, Afghanistan, Albania, Turkey, Great Britain, and so on.

5) The 200-year-old parchment in which Kosovo's declaration of independence is signed is located in the Office of the Speaker of the Parliament.

6) Apart from the parchment, there are also the pencil with which the signatures, the signature lists of participating deputies, and the flag posted at the independence declaration hearing.

7) The London Museum was the one who forgave Kosovo for declaring independence!

8) The first flags of the Republic of Kosovo were printed in Turkey.

9) Kosovo's Himni, composed by composer Mendi Meqi, had for the first time been launched at the session of Kosovo's declaration of independence.

10) The white stars on the Kosovo flag symbolize the different communities living in Kosovo, the yellow map symbolizes Kosovo's wealth, while the blue color symbolizes Europe.