Kosovo sets Albania's Nov. 28 independence day as a holiday

November 23, 2017 - 10:05 AM

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Kosovo's government has decided to declare Nov. 28, the independence day of neighbouring Albania, a national holiday, a move that may spark an angry reaction from Serbia.

A government statement Thursday said that Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj declared Nov. 28 as the "day of Albanians ... to respect historic and cultural values and good family and social traditions."

Kosovo's 1.8 million population is predominantly ethnic Albanian. It detached from Yugoslavia following a three-month NATO air war in 1999 to stop a bloody Serbian crackdown against ethnic Albanian separatists. Its 2008 unilateral independence from Serbia is recognized by 114 states but not by Serbia.

Albania and Kosovo have never said they aim to unify into a Greater Albania.

News from © The Associated Press, 2017

More News ...

iN RESPONSE: Readers have their say
Following are emailed reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the third week of April 2024. They have been edited slightly for readability. Got something you want to add? Send an email to editor Marshall Jones at mjo

Fruit packers near Kelowna fined another $78,000
A fruit packing plant in the Ellison area east of Kelowna was hit with another $78,368 in fines for discharging effluent into a failed septic field. That’s now more than $110,000 in fines since 2022 for the same issue at Sandher Fruit

Manitoba government plans to lift ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is planning to end its ban on homegrown recreational cannabis — a move that would leave Quebec as the only province with such a restriction. "We're just allowing Manitobans to have the same

Kamloops council to expand tax exemptions for new rental builds
Developers have more land to choose from if they want to cut costs on new rental buildings in Kamloops. The City is looking to expand a tax exemption program to span massive swaths of Kamloops in order to encourage development. Previously r

Popular vernon News

New Kamloops homeless drop-in centre, soup kitchen needed within weeks, not months
The City of Kamloops and local non-profit groups expect to replace the services of a drop-in support centre and soup kitchen before winter. That means more than 100 regular clients of The Lo
April 24, 2024 7:00 AM
Salmon Arm pharmacist pays fine for diverting drugs from hospital
A former Salmon Arm pharmacist has to pay a hefty fine for diverting drugs from the local hospital. Earlier this month, Laurent Roy, 59, pleaded guilty to 11 counts under the Pharmacy Operat
April 24, 2024 6:00 PM
iN VIDEO: Kelowna lawyer swapped a RV for a sailboat and retired on the ocean
A lawyer from Kelowna considered retiring and travelling in an RV but decided to hit the high seas on a sailboat instead. Liam Clarke practiced law for 27 years and liked the idea of travell
April 25, 2024 7:00 AM
Kamloops man accused of snatching two girls, taking them to Vancouver Island
A Kamloops man was arrested within a day after he was accused of abducting two young girls and taking them to Vancouver Island. The incident was reported to Kamloops RCMP on Monday, April 22
April 24, 2024 10:22 AM
'A spicy lady': Kamloops fire department celebrates oldest team member
A beloved senior in Kamloops is being celebrated for her impressive 35 years of service as an administrator at Kamloops Fire Rescue. For over three decades, Marilynn St. Jean has been at the
April 24, 2024 7:00 PM

Trending Now

TRENDING NOW: Just a regular guy, and his bear

View Site in: Desktop | Mobile

Kosovo sets Albania's Nov. 28 independence day as a holiday

Trending Now

Kamloops

Kelowna

Penticton

Vernon