A sign that depicted Peja as part of Serbia was installed at an intersection in Rozhajë, Montenegro. However, following widespread backlash, the sign was taken down.
Kaltrina Hoti, an artist residing in Plav, had reacted on Saturday to the placement of the sign. She stated that the installation had been approved by the Mayor of Plav, Nihad Canoviq.
“Approval from the Mayor of Plav, Nihad Canoviq, to place a sign indicating that Peja (Kosovo) is part of Serbia has created a dangerous atmosphere of ethnic tension in the region. The sign, which suggests that Montenegro endorses Serbia’s claims over Kosovo, is not only offensive to the Albanian minority population in Montenegro, but it also risks increasing ethnic divisions and potentially leading to unrest,” Hoti wrote on Saturday.
After the reaction, the sign was removed, but the incident raised serious concerns about the underlying ethnic tensions in the region and the political implications of such actions.
On Sunday, Kaltrina Hoti shared a photo showing that the controversial sign claiming Peja as part of Serbia had been removed.
“Who was right? I want to thank everyone who criticized me, trying to tell me I was wrong (especially some Albanian speakers). Now the sign is gone. Now, Nihad Canoviq must fulfill his legal obligation to the Albanian minority by placing all traffic signs in both languages,” Hoti wrote.
In a video posted by the artist, she was seen speaking with workers who explained that the sign had been placed at the request of the Mayor of Plav, Nihad Canoviq. The incident sparked a wider discussion on the importance of respecting minority rights and maintaining ethnic harmony in the region.
