(GEN) TURKISH STATE MINISTER IN KOSOVO.

PRISTINA, Aug 11, 2009 (TUR) -- Turkish State Minister Faruk Celik attended a ceremony to commemorate Sultan Murad I in Kosovo on Monday.

Murad I, one of the sultans of Ottoman Empire, was commemorated in the 620th anniversary of his death.

Celik, who spoke at the ceremony, said that Turkey attached importance to independence and development of Kosovo.

Celik is expected to have meetings with Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

Murad I (1326-1389) was the ruler of the Ottoman Empire from 1359 to 1389. He established the Empire by building up a society and government in the newly conquered city of Edirne and by expanding the realm in Europe, bringing most of the Balkans under Ottoman rule and forcing the Byzantine emperor to pay him tribute. It was Murad who established the former Osmanli tribe into an empire. He also established the two provinces of Anadolu (Anatolia) and Rumeli (Europe). Murad I was killed in the battle of Kosovo.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)