Llazar Semini Flag Day Thousands of Albanians gathered in Pri tina, the capital of Kosovo, on the evening of Tuesday 28 November to salute their black and red colored flag. Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, who are seeking independence from the Yugoslav Federation, consider the day as their national day though they still formally belong to Yugoslavia.
Today is a holy day.
Despite a police ban, firecrackers were heard throughout the night. Several musical performances were held throughout the city. 88 years ago, in 1912, Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Emprie, and Ismail Qemali raised the national flag in the south-western Albanian port town of Vlore. The Albanian mission in Pri tina held a party on the eve of Flag Day day in celebration. Kouchner to quit UN post in Kosovo In a message on Monday 27 November, the head of the UN mission in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, told UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that he plans to leave his post in mid-December.