A difficult question for Kosovars: Who are we?
When Kosovo recently held a contest to design a flag, the organizers insisted that it reflect the multi-ethnic population, shunning the nationalist symbols of the past.
But dozens of artists chose to ignore that edict. They submitted variations of the red and black Albanian flag, whose two-headed eagle has for decades been proudly displayed at weddings and on the battlefield, while being equally reviled by many Serbs, who make up a minority in this breakaway province of Serbia.
As Kosovo prepares to declare its independence from Serbia - the culmination of a long and bloody struggle - this artistic rebellion underlines the challenge this small but proud territory faces to forge a secular national identity, one that can overcome ethnic and religious resentments.
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But dozens of artists chose to ignore that edict. They submitted variations of the red and black Albanian flag, whose two-headed eagle has for decades been proudly displayed at weddings and on the battlefield, while being equally reviled by many Serbs, who make up a minority in this breakaway province of Serbia.
As Kosovo prepares to declare its independence from Serbia - the culmination of a long and bloody struggle - this artistic rebellion underlines the challenge this small but proud territory faces to forge a secular national identity, one that can overcome ethnic and religious resentments.