Turkish becomes a 'language in official use' in Kosovo's Mitrovica municipality

In the North Mitrovica municipality in northern Kosovo, Turkish has been granted the status of "language in official use," which is given to languages traditionally spoken by the public in the country.

During a municipal assembly session in North Mitrovica, a municipality in northern Kosovo where Serbs predominantly live, a draft resolution submitted by Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party (KDTP) MP Enis Kervan to recognize Turkish as a "language in official use" was approved by a majority vote.

In his statement regarding the matter, KDTP MP Kervan said that with the approval of the draft resolution, it has been proven once again that Kosovo is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural state.

"OUR TURKISH HAS BEEN OFFICIALIZED BY MAJORITY VOTE"

Stating that Turkish has been traditionally spoken in Kosovo for centuries, Kervan said, "Today, our Turkish has been officialized by a majority vote."

Turkish currently holds the status of "official language" in the municipalities of Prizren and Mamusha in Kosovo, and the status of "language in official use" in the municipalities of Pristina, Gjilan, Vushtrri, and South Mitrovica.

According to Kosovo's laws, a language that is traditionally spoken within municipal boundaries can hold the status of "language in official use" regardless of the representation ratio. This status does not mandate the use of a language in official use within the municipality's areas of responsibility.

According to the results of the last census conducted in Kosovo in 2011, while a total of 18 thousand 738 Turks live in the country, approximately 50 thousand people can speak Turkish in addition to their native language.

News Source: AA