Kosovo condemns group for burning Turkish flag
BELGRADE – Anadolu Agency
The Kosovan government on Aug. 3 condemned a video recently posted online showing a group of people burning a Turkish flag.
In a video posted on social media, a small group of people in Kosovo are seen stomping on a Turkish flag and then burning it.
The group said they had undertaken the action to support Kosovan Deputy Foreign Minister Gjergj Dedaj who had previously published insulting content against Turkey and Turks.
In a written statement, the Kosovan government described the group behind the incident as “racist.”
“The Kosovo government strongly condemns all sorts of vandalism acts that is detrimental to the state and national symbols of Turkey,” said the statement.
It emphasized that the government had firmly asked law enforcement to take action against those who harm the harmony and coexistence of the citizens, regardless of their ethnic affiliation.
Moreover, the Democratic Turkish Party of Kosovo (KDTP) officially requested Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to remove Dedaj from office by the end of the week.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Belgrade insists the country remains part of Serbia. Since then tensions have remained between Kosovo’s ethnic-Albanian majority and a small Serb minority in the north.
It is recognized by over 100 countries, including the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Turkey.
Serbia, Russia and China are among the countries which have not yet recognized Kosovo’s independence.
