Ad promoting Kosovo proves embarrassing

[February 17, 2012]  PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) -- The advertisement was designed to promote foreign investment in Kosovo, but it didn't quite work out that way.

Just before Kosovo declared independence in 2008, it unveiled a large statue in Pristina with the word "newborn" spelled out in large yellow letters.

So the government decided to feature that work in its video advertisement.

But when the ad began appearing locally on Internet some viewers said the statue appeared to be spelling the word "newporn."

Kosovo's government soon figured out why: blue paint that vandals have sprayed on the statue is blocking out some of its lettering.

But no problem: Just before the ad was to be shown on CNN-TV, it was redesigned and now works just fine.

[Associated Press]

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