The Japan Times - Five facts about Kosovo: three flags, pop royalty and love of US

Here are five things to know about the former Serbian province, which broke away from Belgrade in a bloody war in the 1990s and is still pushing for full global recognition of its statehood.

- America the great -

Kosovo's reputation as "the most pro-American country" in the world continues to be visible on the streets.

The love for all things American is rooted in gratitude for Washington's support during Kosovo's struggle for independence from Serbia, including the US-led NATO intervention that ended the war in 1999.

The capital Pristina is home to a statue of former US president Bill Clinton, a bust of former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright and a boulevard named after George W. Bush.

Klinton and Medllin -- a Kosovar twist on Clinton and Madeleine -- are also popular names for children born after the conflict.

With popularity also comes influence.

Washington wields heavy clout in Pristina, leading to the joke that Kosovo has two governments: one that is elected and another in the super-modern US embassy, perched on a hill overlooking Pristina.

- Pop stars and diaspora -

Kosovo is home to around 1.6 million people, with another 800,000 estimated to be living abroad, mostly in Germany and Switzerland.

The diaspora is a hefty economic force, sending home millions of euros in vital remittances annually, while also spending an untold amount of cash during summer holidays.

Kosovo is also home to one of Europe's youngest populations, with half aged under 25.

However, it has one of the highest youth unemployment rates, which together with the poverty level of just above 19 percent, is a major factor in pushing people to emigrate.

Some of Kosovo's most famous ambassadors are its diaspora pop stars, including the UK-raised Dua Lipa and Rita Ora, who both speak proudly of their Kosovo roots and do not miss a chance to promote its independence.

- Three flags -

Three different flags can be found flying across Kosovo.

The official flag bears the diamond shape of its territory and six stars symbolising the six main ethnic groups on a blue background.

It is jokingly called a "towel" by members of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority, who believe the flag was adopted largely to please Western patrons who wanted a neutral symbol.

But the colours more commonly flown across Kosovo are the pan-Albanian symbol of a black double-headed eagle on a red background, which is also the official flag of neighbouring Albania.

The exception is in enclaves home to Kosovo's Serb minority, who still fly the Serbian tricolour flag as a symbol of their loyalty to Belgrade.

- Recognition -

Kosovo declared independence in 2008 -- a decision that was recognised by more than 100 nations, according to its foreign ministry.

Serbia, however, has fiercely refused to recognise the young democracy and with help of Russia and China has lobbied heavily against its international recognition and played a pivotal role in helping block its UN membership.

In 2017, Belgrade launched a "derecognition campaign" aiming to persuade countries that have recognised Kosovo to reverse that decision.

Serbia said it has succeeded in convincing some 28 countries to revoke their recognition of Kosovo to date.

However, the "derecognition campaign" is not without controversy.

Kosovo authorities have accused Serbia of spreading disinformation, saying that they had not received a single official communique from any of the countries Serbia has alleged no longer recognises the government in Pristina.

- Moderate Islam -

More than 90 percent of Kosovars identify as Muslim, making it one of Europe's few Muslim-majority territories.

Most followers of the faith in Kosovo practise a liberal form of Sunni Islam.

Research shows that for many, religion is a private matter and ethnicity takes precedence.

"The religion of the Albanians is Albanianism," goes one common saying in the Balkans.

But recent years have seen growing pockets of extremism, leading authorities to crack down on a handful of radical clerics.

Y.Kato--JT