Keep it Fake (talk | contribs) →Kosovo in Yugoslavia: Personal insults are not nice. 'most socially bakward' ? we saw your civilization |
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Please be very careful in editing the introduction of this article. The Arbitration Committee has placed this article on probation. While this occurred in 2006, it was never lifted; thus, this page is still under probation. If any editor makes disruptive edits, they may be banned by an administrator from this and related articles, or other reasonably related pages. See the talk page for more information. |
Please be very careful in editing the introduction of this article. The Arbitration Committee has placed this article on probation. While this occurred in 2006, it was never lifted; thus, this page is still under probation. If any editor makes disruptive edits, they may be banned by an administrator from this and related articles, or other reasonably related pages. See the talk page for more information. |
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Please also note that the current delicate (and controversial) political situation of |
Please also note that the current delicate (and controversial) political situation of Kosova makes the terms of article probation all the more important. DO NOT ENGAGE IN EDIT-WARRING ON THIS ARTICLE or any related articles. Edit-warring on this article will result in immediate blocking and application of additional sanctions under the terms of probation as administrators and/or the community deem appropriate. Thank you. |
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Prior to a controversial change, discussion NEEDS to take place. PRIOR TO not afterwards. Please address such controversial edits within the Talk Page first. |
Prior to a controversial change, discussion NEEDS to take place. PRIOR TO not afterwards. Please address such controversial edits within the Talk Page first. |
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{{redirect4|Kosova|Autonomous Province of |
{{redirect4|Kosova|Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija}} |
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{{redirect6|Republic of Kosova|the former entity of the same name|Republic of Kosova (1990–2000)|| |
{{redirect6|Republic of Kosova|the former entity of the same name|Republic of Kosova (1990–2000)||Kosova (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Infobox Country |
{{Infobox Country |
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|conventional_long_name = |
|conventional_long_name = Kosova |
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|image_map = |
|image_map = Kosova map-en.svg |
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|map_caption = Map of |
|map_caption = Map of Kosova |
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|national_motto = |
|national_motto = |
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|national_anthem = |
|national_anthem = |
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|percent_water = n/a |
|percent_water = n/a |
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|population_estimate = 2,100,000<ref>See: |
|population_estimate = 2,100,000<ref>See: |
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[http://www.ks-gov.net/esk/esk/pdf/english/population/Demographic%20changes%20of%20the% |
[http://www.ks-gov.net/esk/esk/pdf/english/population/Demographic%20changes%20of%20the%20Kosova%20population%201948-2006.pdf] |
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[http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/ |
[http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/Kosova/SoE/popullat.htm UN estimate], Kosova’s population estimates range from 1.9 to 2.4 million. The last two population census conducted in 1981 and 1991 estimated Kosova’s population at 1.6 and 1.9 million respectively, but the 1991 census probably undercounted Albanians. The latest estimate in 2001 by OSCE puts the number at 2.4 Million. The World Factbook gives an estimate of 2,126,708 for the year 2007 (see {{CIA_World_Factbook_link|kv|Kosova}}).</ref> |
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|population_estimate_year = 2007 |
|population_estimate_year = 2007 |
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|population_census = 1,956,196{{smallsup|1}} |
|population_census = 1,956,196{{smallsup|1}} |
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|population_density_sq_mi = 500 |
|population_density_sq_mi = 500 |
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| GDP_PPP_year = 2007 |
| GDP_PPP_year = 2007 |
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| GDP_PPP = $4 billion<ref name=" |
| GDP_PPP = $4 billion<ref name="CIAKosova">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html CIA - The World Factbook - Kosova], updated on [[March 20]] [[2008]], accessed on [[April 5]] [[2008]].</ref> |
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| GDP_PPP_rank = N/A |
| GDP_PPP_rank = N/A |
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,800<ref name=" |
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,800<ref name="CIAKosova"/> |
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 151st |
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 151st |
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| GDP_nominal_year = 2007 |
| GDP_nominal_year = 2007 |
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| GDP_nominal = $3.237 billion<ref name=" |
| GDP_nominal = $3.237 billion<ref name="CIAKosova"/> |
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| GDP_nominal_rank = N/A |
| GDP_nominal_rank = N/A |
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| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $1,500<ref name=" |
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $1,500<ref name="CIAKosova"/> |
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| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 119th |
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 119th |
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|currency = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]]) |
|currency = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]]) |
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|footnote2 = Officially [[+381]]; some mobile phone providers use [[+377]] (Monaco) or [[+386]] (Slovenia) instead. |
|footnote2 = Officially [[+381]]; some mobile phone providers use [[+377]] (Monaco) or [[+386]] (Slovenia) instead. |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Republic of |
{{Republic of Kosova}} |
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{{Infobox Country |
{{Infobox Country |
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|conventional_long_name = |
|conventional_long_name = Kosova, UN protectorate |
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|image_map = Map of Serbia ( |
|image_map = Map of Serbia (Kosova and Metohija).PNG |
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|map_caption = |
|map_caption = Kosova within Serbia |
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|common_name = |
|common_name = Kosova |
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|continent = Europe |
|continent = Europe |
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|region = Balkans |
|region = Balkans |
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|image_coat = |
|image_coat = |
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|sovereignty_type = UN protectorate |
|sovereignty_type = UN protectorate |
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|sovereignty_note = [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|UN administration]] of [[ |
|sovereignty_note = [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|UN administration]] of [[Kosova]], an autonomous province of [[Serbia]]{{Fact|date=May 2008}} |
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|leader_title1 = [[Special Representative of the Secretary-General for |
|leader_title1 = [[Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosova|Special Representative]] |
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|leader_name1 = Joachim Rücker |
|leader_name1 = Joachim Rücker |
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|leader_title2 = [[President of |
|leader_title2 = [[President of Kosova|President]] |
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|leader_name2 = [[Fatmir Sejdiu]] |
|leader_name2 = [[Fatmir Sejdiu]] |
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|established_event1 = [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|UNSCR 1244]] |
|established_event1 = [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|UNSCR 1244]] |
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|established_event2 = [[Joint Interim Administrative Structure|Joint Kosovar/UN administration]] |
|established_event2 = [[Joint Interim Administrative Structure|Joint Kosovar/UN administration]] |
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|established_date2 = May 2000 |
|established_date2 = May 2000 |
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|established_event3 = [[European Union Rule of Law Mission in |
|established_event3 = [[European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosova|EULEX]] |
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|established_date3 = [[16 February]], [[2008]] |
|established_date3 = [[16 February]], [[2008]] |
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|currency = [[Euro]] |
|currency = [[Euro]] |
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|currency_code = EUR |
|currency_code = EUR |
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}} |
}} |
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{{History of |
{{History of Kosova and Metohija}} |
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[[Image: |
[[Image:Kosova02.png|thumb|170px|Kosova Vilayet, 1875-1878]] |
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[[Image:Balkans-ethnique.JPG|thumb|260px|right|Ethnographic map of the late 19th century Balkans and western [[Asia Minor]], ''Atlas Général Vidal-Lablache'', Paris, 1898]] |
[[Image:Balkans-ethnique.JPG|thumb|260px|right|Ethnographic map of the late 19th century Balkans and western [[Asia Minor]], ''Atlas Général Vidal-Lablache'', Paris, 1898]] |
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[[Image:Balkan Wars Boundaries cleanup.jpg|thumb|Boundaries on the Balkans after the [[First Balkan War|First]] and [[Second Balkan War]].]] |
[[Image:Balkan Wars Boundaries cleanup.jpg|thumb|Boundaries on the Balkans after the [[First Balkan War|First]] and [[Second Balkan War]].]] |
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[[Image:SAP |
[[Image:SAP Kosova.png|thumb|[[Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosova]] of [[Socialist Republic of Serbia|Socialist Serbia]] inside [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Socialist Yugoslavia]], 1974-1990.]] |
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''' |
'''Kosova''' ({{lang-sq|Kosova}}; {{lang-sr|Косово и Метохија}}; {{lang|sr-Latn|''Kosova i [[Metohija]]''}}) is a [[disputed territory]] in the [[Balkans]]. It has been part of the |
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lands of [[Dardani]] in the years BC, |
lands of [[Dardani]] in the years BC, |
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[[Roman empire|Roman]], [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]], [[Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian]], [[Serbian Empire|Serbian]] and [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman]] empire, then the [[Kingdom of Serbia]], [[Italian Empire]] and [[Yugoslavia]] in the [[20th century]]. Following the 1999 [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]] the territory came under the interim administration of the [[United Nations]] ([[UNMIK]]). |
[[Roman empire|Roman]], [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]], [[Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian]], [[Serbian Empire|Serbian]] and [[Ottoman empire|Ottoman]] empire, then the [[Kingdom of Serbia]], [[Italian Empire]] and [[Yugoslavia]] in the [[20th century]]. Following the 1999 [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]] the territory came under the interim administration of the [[United Nations]] ([[UNMIK]]). |
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In February [[2008]], the [[Assembly of |
In February [[2008]], the [[Assembly of Kosova]] declared Kosova's independence as the '''Republic of Kosova''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Kosovës}}). Its independence is [[International reaction to the 2008 Kosova declaration of independence#States which formally recognise Kosova as independent|recognized by some countries]] and [[International reaction to the 2008 Kosova declaration of independence#States which do not recognise Kosova or have yet to decide|opposed by others]], including the [[Republic of Serbia]], which continues to claim sovereignty over it as the '''Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija''' ({{lang-sr|Аутономна Покрајина Косово и Метохија / Autonomna Pokrajina Kosova i Metohija}}). |
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Kosova borders [[Albania]] to the west, [[Central Serbia]] to the north and east, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the south, and [[Montenegro]] to the northwest. The largest city and the capital of Kosova is [[Pristina]] (also Prishtina, Priština), while other cities include [[Peć]] (Peja), [[Prizren]], and [[Kosovska Mitrovica|Mitrovica]]. |
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==Name== |
==Name== |
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{{main|Names of |
{{main|Names of Kosova}} |
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'' |
''Kosova'' (Косово, {{IPA|/ˈkɔsɔvɔ/}}) is the Serbian possessive adjective of ''kos'' (кос) "[[turdus merula|blackbird]]",<ref>''Ibid''.</ref><ref>[http://opinionleaders.htmlplanet.com/koskosova.html "The name Kosova"]. Dr John-Peter Maher, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, [[Northeastern Illinois University]]</ref> an [[ellipsis]] for ''Kosova Polje'' "field of the blackbirds", the [[Kosova Field|site]] of the 1389 [[Battle of Kosova Field]]. The name of the field was applied to [[Kosova Province, Ottoman Empire|an Ottoman province]] created in 1864. |
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The region currently known as " |
The region currently known as "Kosova" became an administrative region in 1946, as the [[Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija (1946-1974)|Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija]]. In 1974, the compositional "Kosova and [[Metohija]]" was reduced to simple "Kosova" in the name of the [[Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosova]], but in 1990 was renamed back to [[Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija (1990-1999)|Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija]]. |
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The entire region is commonly referred to in [[English language|English]] simply as '' |
The entire region is commonly referred to in [[English language|English]] simply as ''Kosova'' and in [[Albanian language|Albanian]] as ''{{lang|sq|Kosova}}''. In [[Serbian language|Serbian]], a distinction is made between the eastern and western areas; the term ''{{lang|sr-Latn|Kosova}}'' ({{lang|sr|Косово}}) is used for the eastern part, while the western part is called "[[Metohija]]" ({{lang|sr|Метохија}}). |
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==History== |
==History== |
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{{main|History of |
{{main|History of Kosova|20th century history of Kosova}} |
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The formation of the Republic of |
The formation of the Republic of Kosova is a result of the turmoils of the [[disintegration of Yugoslavia]], particularly the [[Kosova War]] of 1996 to 1999, but it is suffused with issues dating back to the [[rise of nationalism in the Balkans]] under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman rule]] in the 19th century, [[Albanian nationalism|Albanian]] vs. [[Serbian nationalism|Serbian]] nationalisms in particular, the latter notably surrounding the [[Battle of Kosova]] eponymous of the Kosova region. |
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=== Early history === |
=== Early history === |
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{{main|Prehistoric Balkans|Moesia Superior|History of Medieval |
{{main|Prehistoric Balkans|Moesia Superior|History of Medieval Kosova|First Bulgarian Empire|History of Medieval Serbia}} |
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During the [[Neolithic]] period, the region of |
During the [[Neolithic]] period, the region of Kosova lay within the extent of the [[Vinča-Turdaş culture]]. In the 4th to 3rd centuries BC, it was the territory of the [[Thraco-Illyrian]] tribe of the [[Dardani]], forming part of the kingdom of [[Illyria]]. Illyria was conquered by Rome in the 160s BC, and made the Roman province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] in 59 BC. The Kosova region became part of [[Moesia Superior]] in AD 87. The [[Slavic migrations]] reached the Balkans in the 6th to 7th century. The area was absorbed into the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]] in the 850s, where Christianity and Slavic culture was cemented in the region. It was re-taken by the Byzantines after 1018. As the center of Slavic resistance to Constantinople in the region, it often switched between Serbian and Bulgarian rule on one hand and Byzantine on the other until the Serb principality of [[Rascia]] conquered it by the end of the 11th century. |
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The |
The Kosova region became part of [[Moesia Superior]] in AD 87. The [[Slavic migrations]] reached the Balkans in the 6th to 7th century. Fully absorbed into the Serbian Kingdom until the end of the 12th, it became the secular and spiritual center of the [[History of Medieval Serbia|Serbian medieval state]] of the [[House of Nemanjić|Nemanyiden]] dynasty in the 13th century, with the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church in [[Peć]], while [[Prizren]] was the secular center. The zenith was reached with the formation of a [[Serbian Empire]] in 1346, which after 1371 transformed from a centralized absolutist medieval monarchy to a feudal realm. Kosova became the hereditary land of the [[House of Branković]] and [[Vučitrn]] and [[Priština|Pristina]] flourished. |
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[[Image:ShepherdByzempire1265.jpg|thumb|left|300px| |
[[Image:ShepherdByzempire1265.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Kosova region within Serbian Kingdom c. 1265]] |
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In the 1389 [[Battle of |
In the 1389 [[Battle of Kosova]], Ottoman forces defeated a coalition led by [[Lazar Hrebeljanović]]. |
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In 1402, a [[Serbian Despotate]] was raised and |
In 1402, a [[Serbian Despotate]] was raised and Kosova became its richest territory, famous for mines. |
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The local House of [[Vuk Branković|Branković]] came to prominence as the local lords of |
The local House of [[Vuk Branković|Branković]] came to prominence as the local lords of Kosova, under [[Vuk Branković]], with the temporary fall of the [[History of Serbia|Serbian Despotate]] in 1439. |
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During the first fall of Serbia, [[Novo Brdo]] and |
During the first fall of Serbia, [[Novo Brdo]] and Kosova offered last resistance to the invading Ottomans in 1441; in 1455, it was finally and fully conquered by the Ottoman Empire. |
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=== Ottoman |
=== Ottoman Kosova (1455 to 1912)=== |
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{{main|History of Ottoman |
{{main|History of Ottoman Kosova}} |
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{{see|Vilayet of |
{{see|Vilayet of Kosova|History of Ottoman Serbia}} |
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Kosova was part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] from 1455 to 1912, at first as part of the [[eyalet]] of [[Rumelia]], and from 1864 as a [[Kosova Province, Ottoman Empire|separate province]]. |
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Kosova was briefly taken by the Austrian forces during the Great War of 1683–1699 with help of 6,000 Albanian fighters led by [[Pjetër Bogdani]]. In 1690, the [[Serbian Patriarch of Peć]] [[Arsenije III]] led 37,000 predominantly Serbian families out of Kosova. More migrations of Orthodox Christians from the Kosova area continued throughout the 18th century. |
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In 1766, the Ottomans abolished the [[Patriarchate of Peć]] and the position of Christians in |
In 1766, the Ottomans abolished the [[Patriarchate of Peć]] and the position of Christians in Kosova deteriorated, including full imposition of [[jizya]] (taxation of non-Muslims). In contrast, many Albanian chiefs converted to Islam and gained prominent positions in the Turkish regimen.<ref>The Balkans. From Constantinople to Communism. Dennis Hupchik</ref> On the whole, "Albanians had little cause of unrest" and "if anything, grew important in Ottoman internal affairs."<ref>Hupchik</ref> The final result of four and a half centuries of Muslim rule was a marked decline in the previously dominant Slavic Christian demographic element in Kosova, replaced by a Turko-Albanian <ref>Kosova.Catholic Encyclopaedia</ref> stratum. |
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In the 19th century, there was a "[[Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire|awakening]]" of [[ethnic nationalism]] throughout the Balkans. The ethnic [[Albanian nationalism]] movement was centred in |
In the 19th century, there was a "[[Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire|awakening]]" of [[ethnic nationalism]] throughout the Balkans. The ethnic [[Albanian nationalism]] movement was centred in Kosova. |
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In 1871, a Serbian meeting was held in [[Prizren]] at which the possible retaking and reintegration of |
In 1871, a Serbian meeting was held in [[Prizren]] at which the possible retaking and reintegration of Kosova and the rest of "Old Serbia" was discussed, as the [[History of Serbia|Principality of Serbia]] itself had already made plans for expansions towards Ottoman territory. In 1878, a Peace Accord was drawn that left the cities of Pristina and [[Kosovska Mitrovica]] under civil Serbian control, and outside Ottoman jurisdiction, while the rest of Kosova remained under Ottoman control. As a response, ethnic Albanians formed the [[League of Prizren]], pursuing political aspirations of unifying the Albanian people under the Ottoman umbrella. |
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=== 20th century === |
=== 20th century === |
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{{main|20th century history of |
{{main|20th century history of Kosova}} |
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==== Balkan Wars to World War I==== |
==== Balkan Wars to World War I==== |
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The [[Young Turk]] movement supported a centralist rule and opposed any sort of autonomy desired by Kosovars, and particularly the Albanians. In 1910, an [[Albanian]] uprising spread from Pristina and lasted until the Ottoman Sultan's visit to |
The [[Young Turk]] movement supported a centralist rule and opposed any sort of autonomy desired by Kosovars, and particularly the Albanians. In 1910, an [[Albanian]] uprising spread from Pristina and lasted until the Ottoman Sultan's visit to Kosova in June of 1911. |
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In 1912, during the [[Balkan Wars]], most of |
In 1912, during the [[Balkan Wars]], most of Kosova was captured by the [[History of Serbia|Kingdom of Serbia]], while the region of [[Metohija]] ([[Albanian language|Albanian]]: ''Dukagjini Valley'') was taken by the [[History of Montenegro|Kingdom of Montenegro]]. An exodus of the local Albanian population occurred. This was described by [[Leon Trotsky]], who was a reporter for the ''[[Pravda]]'' newspaper at the time. The Serbian authorities planned a re-colonization of Kosova.<ref> [http://www.elsie.de/pdf/B2002GatheringClouds.pdf Elsie, R. (ed.) (2002): "''Gathering Clouds. The roots of ethnic cleansing in Kosova. Early twentieth-century documents''"]. Dukagjini Balkan Books, Peja (Kosova, Serbia). ISBN 9951-05-016-6</ref> Numerous colonist Serb families moved into Kosova, equalizing the demographic balance between Albanians and Serbs. |
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Kosova's status within Serbia was finalised the following year at the [[Treaty of London]].<ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/boshtml/bos145.htm Treaty of London, 1913]</ref> |
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In the winter of 1915-1916, during [[World War I]], |
In the winter of 1915-1916, during [[World War I]], Kosova saw a large exodus of the Serbian army which became known as the ''Great Serbian Retreat'', as Kosova was occupied by [[Third Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarians]] and [[Austro-Hungarians]]. |
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In 1918, the Serbian Army pushed the [[Central Powers]] out of |
In 1918, the Serbian Army pushed the [[Central Powers]] out of Kosova. After World War I ended, the Monarchy was then transformed into the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians]] on [[1 December]] [[1918]]. |
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==== Kingdom of Yugoslavia and World War II ==== |
==== Kingdom of Yugoslavia and World War II ==== |
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The 1918–1929 period of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians witnessed a rise of the Serbian population in the region. |
The 1918–1929 period of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians witnessed a rise of the Serbian population in the region. Kosova was split into four counties, three being a part of Serbia (Zvečan, Kosova and southern Metohija) and one of Montenegro (northern Metohija). However, the new administration system since [[26 April]] [[1922]] split Kosova among three Areas of the Kingdom: Kosova, [[Rascia]] and [[Zeta]]. In 1929, the Kingdom was transformed into the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] and the territories of Kosova were reorganised among the [[Zeta Banovina|Banate of Zeta]], the [[Morava Banovina|Banate of Morava]] and the [[Vardar Banovina|Banate of Vardar]]. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia lasted until the [[World War II]] [[Axis powers|Axis]] invasion of 1941, when the greatest part of Kosova became a part of [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italian]]-controlled Albania, and smaller bits by the [[Tsardom of Bulgaria]] and [[Nazi Germany|German]]-occupied [[Serbia (1941-1944)|Military Administration of Serbia]]. After numerous uprisings of [[Partisans]] led by [[Fadil Hoxha]], Kosova was liberated after 1944 with the help of the Albanian partisans of the [[Comintern]], and became a province of [[Serbia]] within the [[Yugoslavia|Democratic Federal Yugoslavia]]. |
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==== |
====Kosova in Yugoslavia==== |
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{{main|Autonomous Province of |
{{main|Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija (1946-1974)|Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosova}} |
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The province was first formed in 1945 as the Autonomous |
The province was first formed in 1945 as the Autonomous Kosova-Metohian Area to protect its regional [[Albanians|Albanian]] majority within the [[People's Republic of Serbia]] as a member of the [[SFRJ|Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia]] under the leadership of the former Partisan leader, [[Josip Broz Tito]]. After Yugoslavia's name change to the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] and Serbia's to the [[Socialist Republic of Serbia]] in 1953, Kosova gained limited internal autonomy in the 1960s. In the 1974 constitution, the [[Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosova]]'s government received more powers, including the highest governmental titles – President and Prime Minister and a seat in the Federal Presidency which made it a ''de facto'' Republic within the Federation, but remaining a Socialist Autonomous Province within the Socialist Republic of Serbia. (Similar rights were extended to [[Vojvodina]]). In Kosova [[Serbo-Croatian]], [[Albanian language|Albanian]] and [[Turkish language|Turkish]] were defined as official languages on the provincial level. Du to high birthrates the number of Albanians increased from 75% to over 90% despite immigration from both sides in search of a better life in the West. In contrast, the number of Serbs barely increased, and in fact dropped from 15% to 8% of the total population, as many Serbs departed from Kosova as a response to the tight economic climate and increased incidents of alleged harassment from their Albanian neighbors. While there was tension, charges of "genocide" and planned harassments have been debunked as an excuse to revoke Kosova's autonomy. For example in 1986 ""[http://books.google.com/books?id=ap8wa_YmT2QC&pg=PA215&dq=genocide+false+Kosova&sig=kmSTVjt9oW2TpXi7kUVw81mjN7o the Serbian Orthodox Church published an official, though false, claim that Kosova Serbs were being subjected to an Albanian program of 'Genocide']. Even though they were disproven[http://books.google.com/books?id=ap8wa_YmT2QC&pg=PA215&dq=genocide+false+Kosova&sig=kmSTVjt9oW2TpXi7kUVw81mjN7o] by police statistics, the received wide play in the Serbian press and that lead to further ethnic problems and eventual removal of Kosova's status. Beginning in March 1981, Kosovar Albanian students organized protests seeking that Kosova become a republic within Yugoslavia and human rights.<ref name="nyt19810419">New York Times 1981-04-19, "One Storm has Passed but Others are Gathering in Yugoslavia"</ref> During the 1980s, ethnic tensions continued with frequent violent outbreaks against Yugoslav state authorities resulting in a further increase in emigration of Kosova Serbs and other ethnic groups.<ref name="reuters19860527">Reuters 1986-05-27, "Kosova Province Revives Yugoslavia's Ethnic Nightmare"</ref><ref name="csm19860728">Christian Science Monitor 1986-07-28, "Tensions among ethnic groups in Yugoslavia begin to boil over"</ref> The Yugoslav leadership tried to suppress protests of Kosova Serbs seeking protection from ethnic discrimination and violence.<ref name="nyt19870627">New York Times 1987-06-27, "Belgrade Battles Kosova Serbs"</ref> |
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====Disintegration of Yugoslavia and |
====Disintegration of Yugoslavia and Kosova War==== |
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{{main| |
{{main|Kosova War|Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija (1990-1999)|Republic of Kosova (1990–2000)}} |
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{{see|Disintegration of Yugoslavia}} |
{{see|Disintegration of Yugoslavia}} |
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Inter-ethnic tensions continued to worsen in |
Inter-ethnic tensions continued to worsen in Kosova throughout the 1980s. |
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The 1986 [[SANU Memorandum]] warned that Yugoslavia was suffering from ethnic strife and the disintegration of the Yugoslav economy into separate economic sectors and territories, which was transforming the federal state into a loose confederation.<ref>SANU (1986): [http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/kosta/memorandum/contents.html Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Memorandum]. GIP Kultura. Belgrade.</ref> |
The 1986 [[SANU Memorandum]] warned that Yugoslavia was suffering from ethnic strife and the disintegration of the Yugoslav economy into separate economic sectors and territories, which was transforming the federal state into a loose confederation.<ref>SANU (1986): [http://www.balkan-archive.org.yu/kosta/memorandum/contents.html Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Memorandum]. GIP Kultura. Belgrade.</ref> |
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On [[June 28]] [[1989]], Milošević delivered a speech in front of a large number of Serb citizens at the main celebration marking the 600th anniversary of the [[Battle of |
On [[June 28]] [[1989]], Milošević delivered a speech in front of a large number of Serb citizens at the main celebration marking the 600th anniversary of the [[Battle of Kosova]], held at [[Gazimestan]]. Many think that this speech helped Milošević consolidate his authority in Serbia.<ref>''The Economist'', June 05, 1999, U.S. Edition, 1041 words, "What's next for Slobodan Milošević?"</ref> |
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In 1989, Milošević, employing a mix of intimidation and political maneuvering, drastically reduced |
In 1989, Milošević, employing a mix of intimidation and political maneuvering, drastically reduced Kosova's special autonomous status within Serbia. Soon thereafter, Kosova Albanians organized a non-violent separatist movement, employing widespread civil disobedience, with the ultimate goal of achieving the independence of Kosova. On [[July 2]] [[1990]], an unconstitutional Kosova parliament declared Kosova an independent country, the ''Republic of Kosova''. The Republic of Kosova was formally disbanded in 2000 when its institutions were replaced by the [[Joint Interim Administrative Structure]] established by the [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova]] (UNMIK). During its lifetime, the Republic of Kosova was only recognized by [[Albania]]. |
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The [[ |
The [[Kosova War]] was initially a conflict between [[Serbs|Serbian]] and [[Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] security forces and the [[Kosova Liberation Army]] (KLA), an ethnic [[Albanians|Albanian]] guerrilla group identified by some as terrorist.[http://judiciary.house.gov/Legacy/muts1213.htm], seeking secession from the former Yugoslavia. In 1998, Western interest had increased and the Serbian authorities were compelled to sign a unilateral cease-fire and partial retreat. Under an agreement devised by [[Richard Holbrooke]], [[OSCE]] observers moved into Kosova to monitor the ceasefire, while Yugoslav military forces partly pulled out of Kosova. However, the ceasefire was systematically broken shortly thereafter by KLA forces, which again provoked harsh counterattacks by the Serbs.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} |
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The Serbs then began to escalate the conflict, using military and paramilitary forces in another [[ethnic cleansing]] campaign this time against the Kosovar Albanians. An estimated 300,000 refugees were displaced during the winter of 1998, many left without adequate food or shelter, precipitating a humanitarian crisis and calls for intervention by the international community. |
The Serbs then began to escalate the conflict, using military and paramilitary forces in another [[ethnic cleansing]] campaign this time against the Kosovar Albanians. An estimated 300,000 refugees were displaced during the winter of 1998, many left without adequate food or shelter, precipitating a humanitarian crisis and calls for intervention by the international community. |
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[[1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|NATO intervention]] between [[March 24]] and [[June 10]] [[1999]],<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.nato.int/ |
[[1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|NATO intervention]] between [[March 24]] and [[June 10]] [[1999]],<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.nato.int/Kosova/all-frce.htm|title=Operation Allied Force|publisher=[[NATO]]}}</ref> combined with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces resulted in a massive displacement of population in Kosova.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.unhcr.org/partners/PARTNERS/3bb051c54.pdf|title=NATO and Humanitarian Action in the Kosova Crisis|author=Larry Minear, Ted van Baarda, Marc Sommers|year=2000|publisher=[[Brown University]]}}</ref> |
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During the conflict, roughly a million ethnic Albanians fled or were forcefully driven from |
During the conflict, roughly a million ethnic Albanians fled or were forcefully driven from Kosova. Altogether, more than 11,000 deaths have been reported to Carla Del Ponte by her prosecutors.<ref name="BBC">{{citeweb| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/514828.stm |title=World: Europe UN gives figure for Kosova dead }}</ref> Some 3,000 people are still missing, of which 2,500 are Albanian, 400 Serbs and 100 [[Roma people|Roma]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/781310.stm |title=3,000 missing in Kosova |author=KiM Info-Service |date=07/06/00}}</ref> |
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===The UN administration period=== |
===The UN administration period=== |
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{{main| |
{{main|Kosova (UNMIK)|Kosova status process}} |
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On [[June 10]], [[1999]], the UN Security Council passed [[UN Security Council Resolution 1244]], which placed |
On [[June 10]], [[1999]], the UN Security Council passed [[UN Security Council Resolution 1244]], which placed Kosova under transitional UN administration ([[UNMIK]]) and authorized [[Kosova Force|KFOR]], a NATO-led peacekeeping force. Resolution 1244 provided that Kosova would have autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and affirmed Yugoslavia's territorial integrity.<ref>{{cite news | title=RESOLUTION 1244 (1999) | date=[[1999-06-17]] | publisher=BBC News | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/371562.stm | accessdate = 2008-02-19 | language = }}</ref> It is important to note that the Republic of Serbia is the legally recognized successor of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. {{Fact|04/27/08|date=April 2008}} |
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Some 200,000-280,000, representing the majority of the Serb population, left when the Serbian forces left. There was also some looting of Serb properties and even violence against some of those Serbs and Roma who remained.<ref>"[http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2002/coe-kos-16oct.pdf |
Some 200,000-280,000, representing the majority of the Serb population, left when the Serbian forces left. There was also some looting of Serb properties and even violence against some of those Serbs and Roma who remained.<ref>"[http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2002/coe-kos-16oct.pdf Kosova: The Human Rights Situation and the Fate of Persons Displaced from Their Homes (.pdf)] ", report by [[Alvaro Gil-Robles]], [[Council of Europe]] Commissioner for Human Rights, Strasbourg, [[October 16]] [[2002]], p. 30.</ref> The current number of [[internally displaced person]]s is disputed,<ref>[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]], Critical Appraisal of Responsee Mechanisms Operating in Kosova for Minority Returns, Pristina, February 2004, p. 14.</ref><ref>U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), April 2000, Reversal of Fortune: Yugoslavia's Refugees Crisis Since the Ethnic Albanian Return to Kosova, p. 2–3.</ref><ref>"[http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2002/coe-kos-16oct.pdf Kosova: The human rights situation and the fate of persons displaced from their homes (.pdf)] ", report by [[Alvaro Gil-Robles]], [[Council of Europe]] Commissioner for Human Rights, Strasbourg, [[October 16]] [[2002]].</ref><ref>International Relations and Security Network (ISN): [http://www.esiweb.org/pdf/esi_lausanne_reactions_id_1.pdf Serbians return to Kosova not impossible, says report (.pdf)] , by Tim Judah, [[June 7]] [[2004]].</ref> with estimates ranging from 65,000<ref>European Stability Initiative (ESI): [http://www.esiweb.org/pdf/esi_document_id_53.pdf The Lausanne Principle: Multiethnicity, Territory and the Future of Kosova's Serbs (.pdf)] , [[June 7]] [[2004]].</ref> to 250,000.<ref>Coordinating Centre of Serbia for Kosova-Metohija: [http://www.kc.gov.yu/D-ENGLISH/dokumenti-eng/program-povratka-eng.html Principles of the program for return of internally displaced persons from Kosova and Metohija] .</ref><ref>[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]]: 2002 Annual Statistical Report: Serbia and Montenegro, pg. 9</ref><ref>[[U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants]] (USCRI): [http://www.refugees.org/countryreports.aspx?id=1624 Country report: Serbia and Montenegro 2006].</ref> Many displaced Serbs are afraid to return to their homes, even with [[UNMIK]] protection. Around 120,000-150,000 Serbs remain in Kosova, but are subject to ongoing harassment and discrimination. According to [[Amnesty International]], the aftermath of the war resulted in an increase in the [[trafficking of women]] for sexual exploitation.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3686173.stm Kosova UN troops 'fuel sex trade'], [[BBC]].</ref><ref>[http://web.amnesty.org/actforwomen/stories-9-eng Kosova: Trafficked women and girls have human rights], Amnesty International.</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1211214,00.html Nato force 'feeds Kosova sex trade'], [[Guardian Unlimited]].</ref> |
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In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a Constitutional Framework for |
In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a Constitutional Framework for Kosova that established the [[Provisional Institutions of Self-Government]] (PISG), including an elected Kosova Assembly, Presidency and office of Prime Minister. Kosova held its first free, Kosova-wide elections in late 2001 (municipal elections had been held the previous year). |
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In March 2004, |
In March 2004, Kosova experienced its worst inter-ethnic violence since the Kosova War. The [[2004 unrest in Kosova|unrest in 2004]] was sparked by a series of minor events that soon cascaded into large-scale riots.<ref>U.S State Department Report, published in 2007.</ref> |
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International negotiations began in 2006 to determine the final status of |
International negotiations began in 2006 to determine the final status of Kosova, as envisaged under [[UN Security Council Resolution 1244]]. The [[UN]]-backed talks, lead by UN Special Envoy [[Martti Ahtisaari]], began in February 2006. Whilst progress was made on technical matters, both parties remained diametrically opposed on the question of status itself.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6034567.stm UN frustrated by Kosova deadlock] ", ''BBC News'', [[October 9]] [[2006]].</ref> |
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In February 2007, Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, the basis for a draft UN Security Council Resolution which proposes 'supervised independence' for the province. A draft resolution, backed by the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]] and other European members of the [[Security Council]], was presented and rewritten four times to try to accommodate Russian concerns that such a resolution would undermine the principle of state sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbriefs/2007/06/29/nb-07 |title=Russia reportedly rejects fourth draft resolution on |
In February 2007, Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, the basis for a draft UN Security Council Resolution which proposes 'supervised independence' for the province. A draft resolution, backed by the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]] and other European members of the [[Security Council]], was presented and rewritten four times to try to accommodate Russian concerns that such a resolution would undermine the principle of state sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbriefs/2007/06/29/nb-07 |title=Russia reportedly rejects fourth draft resolution on Kosova status |author=Southeast European Times |date=29/06/2007}}</ref> Russia, which holds a veto in the Security Council as one of five permanent members, had stated that it would not support any resolution which was not acceptable to both Belgrade and Kosova Albanians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newsbriefs/setimes/newsbriefs/2007/07/10/nb-02 |title=UN Security Council remains divided on Kosova |author=Southeast European Times |date=09/07/07}}</ref> Whilst most observers had, at the beginning of the talks, anticipated independence as the most likely outcome, others have suggested that a rapid resolution might not be preferable.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/985caa90-de5a-11db-afa7-000b5df10621.html?nclick_check=1 |title=A long reconciliation process is required |author=James Dancer |date=30/03/07 |publisher=Financial Times}}</ref> |
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After many weeks of discussions at the UN, the [[United States]], [[United Kingdom]] and other European members of the Security Council formally 'discarded' a draft resolution backing Ahtisaari's proposal on [[20 July]] [[2007]], having failed to secure Russian backing. Beginning in August, a "[[Troika (triumvirate)|Troika]]" consisting of negotiators from the [[European Union]] (Wolfgang Ischinger), the [[United States]] (Frank Wisner) and [[Russia]] (Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko) launched a new effort to reach a status outcome acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina. Despite Russian disapproval, the [[United States|U.S.]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[France]] appeared likely to recognize Kosovar independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2209907,00.html |title=Bosnian nightmare returns to haunt EU |author=Simon Tisdall |date=13/11/07 |publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> A declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until the end of the Serbian presidential elections ([[4 February]] [[2008]]). Most EU members and the US had feared that a premature declaration could boost support in Serbia for the ultra-nationalist candidate, Tomislav Nikolić.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6386467.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Q&A: |
After many weeks of discussions at the UN, the [[United States]], [[United Kingdom]] and other European members of the Security Council formally 'discarded' a draft resolution backing Ahtisaari's proposal on [[20 July]] [[2007]], having failed to secure Russian backing. Beginning in August, a "[[Troika (triumvirate)|Troika]]" consisting of negotiators from the [[European Union]] (Wolfgang Ischinger), the [[United States]] (Frank Wisner) and [[Russia]] (Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko) launched a new effort to reach a status outcome acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina. Despite Russian disapproval, the [[United States|U.S.]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[France]] appeared likely to recognize Kosovar independence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2209907,00.html |title=Bosnian nightmare returns to haunt EU |author=Simon Tisdall |date=13/11/07 |publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> A declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until the end of the Serbian presidential elections ([[4 February]] [[2008]]). Most EU members and the US had feared that a premature declaration could boost support in Serbia for the ultra-nationalist candidate, Tomislav Nikolić.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6386467.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Q&A: Kosova's future<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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====2008 declaration of independence==== |
====2008 declaration of independence==== |
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[[Image: |
[[Image:CountriesRecognizingKosova.png|thumb|States (green) that have recognised Kosova]] |
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{{main|2008 |
{{main|2008 Kosova declaration of independence|International reaction to the 2008 Kosova declaration of independence|2008 Post declaration of independence unrest in Kosova}} |
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The [[Assembly of |
The [[Assembly of Kosova|Kosovar Assembly]] approved a declaration of independence on [[17 February]] [[2008]].<ref name="bbc_proclaim">"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7249034.stm Kosova MPs proclaim independence]", BBC News Online, [[17 February]] [[2008]]</ref> Over the following days, several [[state]]s (the [[United States]], [[Turkey]], [[Albania]], [[Austria]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[France]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Republic of China (Taiwan)]],<ref>{{citenews|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/02/20/2003402059|title=Taiwan officially recognizes Kosova|publisher=[[Taipei Times]]|author=Hsu, Jenny W|date=2008-02-20|accessdate=2008-05-13}}</ref> [[Australia]] and others) announced their recognition, despite protests by [[Serbia]] in the [[UN Security Council]].<ref name="bbc=recog1">"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7251359.stm Recognition for new Kosova grows]", BBC News Online, [[18 February]] [[2008]]</ref> |
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The UN Security Council remains divided on the question (as of [[25 February]] [[2008]]). Of the five members with [[United Nations Security Council veto power|veto power]], USA, UK, and France [[International reaction to the 2008 |
The UN Security Council remains divided on the question (as of [[25 February]] [[2008]]). Of the five members with [[United Nations Security Council veto power|veto power]], USA, UK, and France [[International reaction to the 2008 Kosova declaration of independence|recognized]] the declaration of independence, and [[Russia]] and the [[People's Republic of China]] consider it [[International reaction to the 2008 Kosova declaration of independence|illegal]]. As of [[28 March]] [[2008]], no member-country of [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]], [[CSTO]] or [[Shanghai Cooperation Organization|SCO]] has recognized Kosova as independent.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} |
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The [[European Union]] has no official position towards |
The [[European Union]] has no official position towards Kosova's status, but has decided to deploy the [[European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosova]] to ensure a continuation of international civil presence in Kosova. As of today, most of member-countries of [[NATO]], [[EU]], [[Western European Union|WEU]] and [[OECD]] have recognized Kosova as independent.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} |
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Of |
Of Kosova's immediate neighbour states, only [[Albania]] recognizes the declaration of independence. [[Croatia]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Hungary]], all neighbours of Serbia, announced in a joint statement that they recognise the declaration.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7304488.stm BBC News, ''Serbia's neighbours accept Kosova ''], accessed 12:41 [[19 March]] [[2008]].</ref> |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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{{main|Geography of |
{{main|Geography of Kosova}} |
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Kosova has an area of 10,908 [[square kilometers]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ks-gov.net/ESK/|title=Statistical Office of Kosova}}</ref> and a population of about 2.2 million. The largest cities are [[Priština|Pristina]], the capital, with an estimated 170,000 inhabitants, [[Prizren]] in the south west with a population of 110,000, [[Peć]] in the west with 70,000, and [[Kosovska Mitrovica]] in the north with 70,000. The climate is [[continental climate|continental]], with warm summers and cold and snowy winters. Most of Kosova's terrain in mountainous, the highest peak is [[Đeravica|Đeravica/Gjeravica]] (2656 m). There are two main plain regions, the [[Metohija]] basin is located in the western part of the Kosova, and the [[Plain of Kosova]] occupies the eastern part. The main rivers of the region are the [[White Drin]], running towards the [[Adriatic Sea]], with the [[Erenik]] among its [[Tributary|tributaries]]), the [[Sitnica]], the [[South Morava]] in the Goljak area, and [[Ibar River|Ibar]] in the north. The biggest lakes are [[Gazivoda]], [[Radonjić]], [[Batlava]] and [[Badovac]]. |
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[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], |
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Kosova belongs to the Illyrian province of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the [[European Environment Agency]], the territory of Kosova belongs to the ecoregion of [[Balkan mixed forests]]. |
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==Governance and constitutional status== |
==Governance and constitutional status== |
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{{main|Constitutional status of |
{{main|Constitutional status of Kosova|Kosova status process}} |
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Kosova is under ''de facto'' governance of the '''Republic of Kosova''' |
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except for [[North |
except for [[North Kosova]], which remains under ''de facto'' governance of Serbia. |
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The Republic of |
The Republic of Kosova continues to operate |
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with the [[Provisional Institutions of Self-Government]] elected [[Kosovan parliamentary election, 2007|in 2007]], and the [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in |
with the [[Provisional Institutions of Self-Government]] elected [[Kosovan parliamentary election, 2007|in 2007]], and the [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova]] which operates police, justice and civil administration. [[2008 Serbian elections in Kosova|Serbian provincial elections]] are pending for [[11 May]] [[2008]]. |
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===Autonomous Province under UN administration=== |
===Autonomous Province under UN administration=== |
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{{main|United Nations Interim Administration Mission in |
{{main|United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova|Provisional Institutions of Self-Government|}} |
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In 1999, [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|UN Security Council Resolution 1244]] placed |
In 1999, [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|UN Security Council Resolution 1244]] placed Kosova under transitional UN administration pending a determination of Kosova's future status. This Resolution entrusted the [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova]] (UNMIK) with sweeping powers to govern Kosova, but also directed UNMIK to establish interim institutions of self-governance. Resolution 1244 permits Serbia no official role in governing Kosova and since 1999 Serbian laws and institutions have not been valid in Kosova. NATO has a separate mandate to provide for a safe and secure environment. |
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In May 2001, UNMIK promulgated the Constitutional Framework, which established |
In May 2001, UNMIK promulgated the Constitutional Framework, which established Kosova's [[Provisional Institutions of Self-Government]] (PISG). The PISG replaced the [[Joint Interim Administrative Structure]] (JIAS) established a year earlier. Since 2001, UNMIK has been gradually transferring increased governing competencies to the PISG, while reserving some powers that are normally carried out by sovereign states, such as foreign affairs. Kosova has also established municipal government and an internationally-supervised Kosova Police Service. |
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According to the Constitutional Framework, |
According to the Constitutional Framework, Kosova shall have a 120-member Kosova Assembly. The Assembly includes twenty reserved seats: ten for Kosova Serbs and ten for non-Serb minorities (Bosniaks, Roma, etc). The Kosova Assembly is responsible for electing a President and Prime Minister of Kosova. |
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However, since 1999, the Serb-inhabited areas of |
However, since 1999, the Serb-inhabited areas of Kosova, such as [[North Kosova]] have remained ''de facto'' independent from the Albanian-dominated government in [[Priština]]. They continue to uses Serbian national symbols and participate in Serbian national elections, which are boycotted in the rest of Kosova. Serb-inhabited regions also boycott Kosova elections. The municipalities of [[Leposavić]], [[Zvečan]] and [[Zubin Potok]] are run by local Serbs, while the [[Kosovska Mitrovica]] municipality had rival Serb and Albanian governments until a compromise was agreed in November 2002.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} |
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In February 2003, the Serb areas united to form the '''Union of Serbian Districts and District Units of |
In February 2003, the Serb areas united to form the '''Union of Serbian Districts and District Units of Kosova and Metohija''' in a meeting in Kosovska Mitrovica, which has since served as the ''de facto'' "capital." The Union's President is [[Dragan Velić]]. There is also a central governing body, the Serbian National Council for Kosova and Metohija (SNV). The President of SNV in North Kosova is Dr [[Milan Ivanović (politician)|Milan Ivanović]], while the head of its Executive Council is [[Rada Trajković]]. |
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Local politics in the Serb areas are dominated by the [[Serbian List for |
Local politics in the Serb areas are dominated by the [[Serbian List for Kosova and Metohija]]. The Serbian List is led by [[Oliver Ivanović]], an engineer from Kosovska Mitrovica. |
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In February of 2007 the Union of Serbian Districts and District Units of |
In February of 2007 the Union of Serbian Districts and District Units of Kosova and Metohija transformed into the Serbian Assembly of Kosova and Metohija, presided by [[Marko Jakšić]]. The Assembly has strongly criticized the secessionist movements of the Albanian-dominated PISG Assembly of Kosova. It has demanded unity of the Serb people in Kosova, boycotted [[EULEX,]] and announced massive protests in support of Serbia's sovereignty over Kosova. On [[18 February]] [[2008]], day after Kosova's unilateral declaration of independence, the Assembly declared it "null and void". |
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Within Serbia, |
Within Serbia, Kosova is the concern of the '''Ministry for Kosova and Metohija''', currently led by [[Slobodan Samardzic]]. |
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===Republic of |
===Republic of Kosova=== |
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{{see|Constitution of |
{{see|Constitution of Kosova}} |
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A new constitution for Republic of |
A new constitution for Republic of Kosova has been approved by the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova and is planned to come into force in June 2008.<ref>[http://www.kushtetutakosoves.info/?cid=2,1 Constitution of Kosova - Official Website]</ref> |
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====Foreign relations==== |
====Foreign relations==== |
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{{main|Foreign relations of the Republic of |
{{main|Foreign relations of the Republic of Kosova|}} |
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There are currently eight countries maintaining embassies to the Republic of |
There are currently eight countries maintaining embassies to the Republic of Kosova: [[Albania]],<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.al/english/lajm.asp?id=4962 Ministry of Foreign Affairs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Austria]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/foreign-ministry/service/austrian-representations-in-german.html?no_cache=1|title=Austrian representations - Kosova|publisher=Austrian Foreign Ministry|accessdate=2008-04-17}}</ref> [[Germany]],<ref>[http://www.pristina.diplo.de/Vertretung/pristina/de/Startseite.html Deutsche Botschaft Pristina - Startseite<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the [[United Kingdom]], <ref>[http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1163672154378 British Office Pristina, Kosova<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> the [[United States]],<ref>[http://pristina.usembassy.gov/ Website of the US Embassy, Pristina] [[9 March]] [[2008]]</ref> [[Switzerland]] (also representing [[Liechtenstein]]),<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Swiss_embassy_opens_in_Kosova.html?siteSect=105&sid=8907818&rss=true&ty=st swissinfo.ch] [[28 March]] [[2008]]</ref> and [[Italy]].<ref>[http://qn.quotidiano.net/esteri/2008/03/19/73660-italia_apre_ambasciata_pristina.shtml "Italian Embassy in Pristina"], ''qn.quotidiano.net'', [[19 March]] [[2008]]. Link accessed 2008-04-26. {{it icon}}</ref> As of May 2008, [[International reaction to the 2008 Kosova declaration of independence|40 countries recognize]] Kosova as independent. |
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Skënder Hyseni is Foreign Minister of the Republic of |
Skënder Hyseni is Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kosova. <ref>http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8228</ref> |
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====Military==== |
====Military==== |
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{{main|Military of |
{{main|Military of Kosova}} |
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The [[military of |
The [[military of Kosova]] is still in the process of being organized following the [[International reaction to the 2008 Kosova declaration of independence|partially recognized]] declaration of independence of [[February 17]] [[2008]]. Following the [[Kosova War]] in 1999, [[United Nations]] [[United Nations Security Council|Security Council]] [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|Resolution 1244]] placed Kosova under the authority of the [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova]] (UNMIK), with security provided by the [[NATO]]-led [[Kosova Force]] (KFOR).<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Kosova Military of Kosova</ref> |
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===Rule of law=== |
===Rule of law=== |
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Following the |
Following the Kosova War, due to many weapons in hands of civilians, law enforcement inefficiencies and widespread devastation, there was a tremendous surge in revenge killings and ethnic violence. The number of reported murders rose from 136 in 2000 to 245 in 2001. The number of reported arsons rose from 218 to 523 in the same period. UNMIK points out that the rise in reported incidents may correspond to an increased confidence in the police force rather than more crime. |
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The number of noted serious crimes saw an increase between 1999 and 2000, since then it has been "starting to resemble the same patterns of other European cities."<ref>[http://www.unmikonline.org/civpol/statistics.htm UNMIK statistics]</ref> <ref>[http://iwpr.net/?p=bcr&s=f&o=249549&apc_state=henibcr2001 |
The number of noted serious crimes saw an increase between 1999 and 2000, since then it has been "starting to resemble the same patterns of other European cities."<ref>[http://www.unmikonline.org/civpol/statistics.htm UNMIK statistics]</ref> <ref>[http://iwpr.net/?p=bcr&s=f&o=249549&apc_state=henibcr2001 Kosova Crime Wave], 17 January 2001</ref>[[Organized crime]] continues to be a significant problem. However, there has been tremendous improvement in police action and by 2008, "murder rates in Kosova have been in steady decline, dropping by 75 percent since 2003 with the current recorded rate today under three per 100,000 people" [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/10585/] a rate comparable to that of Switzerland[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_homicide_rate], Ireland or Findland[http://www.benbest.com/lifeext/murder.html]. |
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==Politics== |
==Politics== |
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{{main|Politics of |
{{main|Politics of Kosova}} |
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The largest political party in |
The largest political party in Kosova, the [[Democratic League of Kosova]] (LDK), has its origins in the 1990s non-violent resistance movement to Miloševic's rule. The party was led by [[Ibrahim Rugova]] until his death in 2006.<ref>"[http://www.europeanforum.net/country.php/Kosova_update#4: Kosova Update: Main Political Parties] ", European Forum, [[18 March]] [[2008]]</ref> The two next largest parties have their roots in the [[Kosova Liberation Army]] (KLA): the Democratic Party of Kosova (PDK) led by former KLA leader Hashim Thaci and the Alliance for the Future of Kosova (AAK) led by former KLA commander [[Ramush Haradinaj]].<ref>"[http://www.europeanforum.net/country.php/Kosova_update#4: Kosova Update: Main Political Parties] ", European Forum, [[18 March]] [[2008]]</ref> Kosova publisher Veton Surroi formed his own political party in 2004 named "Ora." Kosova Serbs formed the Serb List for Kosova and Metohija (SLKM) in 2004, but have boycotted Kosova's institutions and never taken their seats in the Kosova Assembly.<ref>"[http://www.europeanforum.net/country.php/Kosova_update#4: Kosova Update: Main Political Parties] ", European Forum, [[18 March]] [[2008]]</ref> |
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In November 2001, the [[OSCE]] supervised the first elections for the |
In November 2001, the [[OSCE]] supervised the first elections for the Kosova Assembly.<ref>"[http://www.osce.org/Kosova/13208.html: OSCE Mission in Kosova - Elections] ", Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe</ref> After that election, Kosova's political parties formed an all-party unity coalition and elected [[Ibrahim Rugova]] as President and Bajram Rexhepi (PDK) as Prime Minister.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1846264.stm: Power-sharing deal reached in Kosova] ", BBC News, [[21 February]] [[2002]]</ref> After Kosova-wide elections in October 2004, the LDK and AAK formed a new governing coalition that did not include PDK and Ora. This coalition agreement resulted in [[Ramush Haradinaj]] (AAK) becoming Prime Minister, while Ibrahim Rugova retained the position of President. PDK and Ora were critical of the coalition agreement and have since frequently accused the current government of corruption.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} |
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Ramush Haradinaj resigned the post of Prime Minister after he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in March 2005. He was replaced by Bajram Kosumi (AAK).<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/3550401.stm: Timeline: |
Ramush Haradinaj resigned the post of Prime Minister after he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in March 2005. He was replaced by Bajram Kosumi (AAK).<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/3550401.stm: Timeline: Kosova] ", BBC News, [[11 April]] [[2008]]</ref> But in a political shake-up after the death of President Rugova in January 2006, Kosumi himself was replaced by former Kosova Protection Corps commander [[Agim Ceku]].<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4768680.stm: Former Rebel set to lead Kosova] ", BBC News, [[2 March]] [[2006]]</ref> Ceku has won recognition for his outreach to minorities, but Serbia has been critical of his wartime past as military leader of the KLA and claims he is still not doing enough for Kosova Serbs. The Kosova Assembly elected [[Fatmir Sejdiu]], a former LDK parliamentarian, president after Rugova's death. Slaviša Petkovic, Minister for Communities and Returns, was previously the only ethnic Serb in the government, but resigned in November 2006 amid allegations that he misused ministry funds.<ref>"[http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.363650179&par=0 Kosova: Serb minister resigns over misuse of funds] ", Adnkronos international (AKI), [[November 27]] [[2006]]</ref><ref>"[http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LZEG-6VUQUS?OpenDocument Sole Kosova Serb cabinet minister resigns: PM] ", Agence France-Presse (AFP), [[November 24]] [[2006]].</ref> Today two of the total thirteen ministries in Kosova's Government have ministers from the minorities. Branislav Grbic, ethnic Serb, leads Minister of Returns and Sadik Idriz, ethnic [[Bošnjak]], leads Ministry of Health<ref>[http://www.ks-gov.net/pm/?menuid=2&subid=20&subs=56&lingo=1 Fillimi<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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[[Kosovan parliamentary election, 2007|Parliamentary elections]] were held on [[17 November]] [[2007]]. After early results, [[Hashim Thaçi]] who was on course to gain 35 per cent of the vote, claimed victory for PDK, the [[Democratic Party of |
[[Kosovan parliamentary election, 2007|Parliamentary elections]] were held on [[17 November]] [[2007]]. After early results, [[Hashim Thaçi]] who was on course to gain 35 per cent of the vote, claimed victory for PDK, the [[Democratic Party of Kosova|Albanian Democratic Party]], and stated his intention to declare independence. Thaçi has since formed a coalition with current President [[Fatmir Sejdiu]]'s [[Democratic League of Kosova|Democratic League]] which was in second place with 22 percent of the vote.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7179850.stm: Kosova gets pro-independence PM] ", BBC News, [[9 January]] [[2008]]</ref> The turnout at the election was particularly low with most Serbs refusing to vote.<ref>[http://www.euronews.net/index.php?page=info&article=454473&lng=1 EuroNews: Ex-guerrilla chief claims victory in Kosova election]. Retrieved [[18 November]] [[2007]].</ref> |
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==Economy== |
==Economy== |
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{{main|Economy of |
{{main|Economy of Kosova}} |
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Kosova has one of the most under-developed economies in Europe, with a per capita income estimated at [[Euro|€]]1,565 (2004).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/KOSOVAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20629286~menuPK:297777~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:297770,00.html |title=Kosova Brief 2006 |author=The World Bank |date=2006}}</ref> Despite substantial development subsidies from all Yugoslav republics, Kosova was the poorest province of Yugoslavia.<ref>Christian Science Monitor 1982-01-15, "Why Turbulent Kosova has Marble Sidewalks but Troubled Industries"</ref> Additionally, over the course of the 1990s a blend of poor economic policies, international sanctions, poor external commerce and ethnic conflict severely damaged the economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/KOSOVAEXTN/0,,menuPK:297775~pagePK:141159~piPK:141110~theSitePK:297770,00.html |title=World Bank Mission in Kosova |author=The World Bank |date=2006/2007}}</ref> |
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Kosova's economy remains weak. After a jump in 2000 and 2001, growth in [[Gross Domestic Product]] (GDP) was negative in 2002 and 2003 and is expected to be around 3 percent 2004-2005, with domestic sources of growth unable to compensate for the declining foreign assistance. [[Inflation]] is low, while the budget posted a deficit for the first time in 2004. Kosova has high external deficits. In 2004, the deficit of the balance of goods and services was close to 70 percent of GDP. Remittances from Kosovars living abroad accounts for an estimated 13 percent of GDP, and foreign assistance for around 34 percent of GDP. |
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Most economic development since 1999 has taken place in the trade, retail and the construction sectors. The private sector that has emerged since 1999 is mainly small-scale. The industrial sector remains weak and the electric power supply remains unreliable, acting as a key constraint. Unemployment remains pervasive, at around 40-50% of the labor force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eciks.org/english/lajme.php?action=total_news&main_id=386 |title=May finds |
Most economic development since 1999 has taken place in the trade, retail and the construction sectors. The private sector that has emerged since 1999 is mainly small-scale. The industrial sector remains weak and the electric power supply remains unreliable, acting as a key constraint. Unemployment remains pervasive, at around 40-50% of the labor force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eciks.org/english/lajme.php?action=total_news&main_id=386 |title=May finds Kosova with 50% unemployed |author=eciks |date=04/05/06}}</ref> |
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UNMIK introduced an external trade regime and customs administration on [[September 3]], [[1999]] when it set customs border controls in |
UNMIK introduced an external trade regime and customs administration on [[September 3]], [[1999]] when it set customs border controls in Kosova. All goods imported in Kosova face a flat 10% customs duty fee.<ref name="BuyUSA">{{cite web |url=http://www.buyusa.gov/Kosova/en/doingbusinessinKosova.html |title=Doing Business in Kosova |author=U.S. Commercial Service}}</ref> These taxes are collected from all Tax Collection Points installed at the borders of Kosova, including those between Kosova and Serbia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seerecon.org/Kosova/documents/wb_econ_report/wb-Kosova-econreport-2-2.pdf |format=PDF |title=External Trade and Customs |author=Economic Reconstruction and Development in South East Europe}}</ref> UNMIK and Kosova institutions have signed Free Trade Agreements with [[Croatia]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/globe-article.php?yyyy=2006&mm=10&dd=02&nav_category=123&nav_id=37090 |title=Croatia, Kosova sign Interim Free Trade Agreement |author=B92 |authorlink=B92 |date=02/10/06 |publisher=mrt.com}}</ref> [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euinKosova.org/upload_press/4.06%20-%20UNMIK%20and%20Bosnia%20and%20Herzegovina%20Initial%20Free%20Trade%20Agreement%2017.2.06.pdf |format=PDF |title=UNMIK and Bosnia and Herzegovina Initial Free Trade Agreement |author=EU in Kosova |date=17/02/06 |publisher=UNMIK}}</ref> [[Albania]] and [[Republic of Macedonia]].<ref name="BuyUSA"/> |
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The [[euro]] is the official currency of |
The [[euro]] is the official currency of Kosova and used by UNMIK and the government bodies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euinKosova.org/uk/invest/invest.php |title=Invest in Kosova |author=EU in Kosova}}</ref> The [[Serbian dinar]] is used in the Serbian-populated parts. {{Fact|date=April 2008}} |
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The chief means of entry to this landlocked country, apart form the main highway leading to the south to [[Skopje]], [[Republic of Macedonia]], is [[Priština International Airport|Pristina International Airport]]. |
The chief means of entry to this landlocked country, apart form the main highway leading to the south to [[Skopje]], [[Republic of Macedonia]], is [[Priština International Airport|Pristina International Airport]]. |
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===Trade and investment=== |
===Trade and investment=== |
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Kosova's 2006 trade balance was total exports(FOB) $154mil and total imports(CIF) $1,612mil. |
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The [[Republic of Macedonia]] is |
The [[Republic of Macedonia]] is Kosova's largest import and export market (averaging €220 million and €9 million, respectively or 20% of whole Kosova's trade), followed by Serbia (€111 million and €5 million app 12%), Germany (app 10% of total trade), China (app from 5-9% depending on season) and Turkey (app 6% of total imports). In total [[EU]]'s 27 countries are Kosova's biggest trade partner, 35% of all Kosova's imports are coming from EU and app 50-60% of Kosova's $150 million exports are going in EU27.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTKOSOVA/147270-1121700806276/20953280/Kosova_Economic_Briefing_april.pdf |format=PDF |title=Kosova Monthly Economic Briefing: Preparing for next winter |author=The World Bank |date=April 2006}}</ref> |
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The economy is hindered by |
The economy is hindered by Kosova's still-unresolved international status, which has made it difficult to attract investment and loans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4509781.stm |title=Brussels offers first Kosova loan |author=BBC News |date=03/05/05}}</ref> |
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The province's economic weakness has produced a thriving black economy in which smuggled petrol, cigarettes and cement are major commodities. The prevalence of official corruption and the pervasive influence of organised crime gangs has caused serious concern internationally. The United Nations has made the fight against corruption and organised crime a high priority, pledging a "zero tolerance" approach. |
The province's economic weakness has produced a thriving black economy in which smuggled petrol, cigarettes and cement are major commodities. The prevalence of official corruption and the pervasive influence of organised crime gangs has caused serious concern internationally. The United Nations has made the fight against corruption and organised crime a high priority, pledging a "zero tolerance" approach. |
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Kosova has a reported foreign debt of 1,264 billion USD that is currently serviced by Serbia. |
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According to [http://www.eciks.org/english/invest.php?action=total_invest&main_id=13 ECIKS] from 2001 to 2004 |
According to [http://www.eciks.org/english/invest.php?action=total_invest&main_id=13 ECIKS] from 2001 to 2004 Kosova received $3,2 billion of foreign aid. International donnor conference is to be held in Switzerland in June or July 2008. Until now EU pledged 2 billion €, $350 mil by USA. Serbia also pledged 120 million € to Serb's enclaves in Kosova. |
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=== Energy sector === |
=== Energy sector === |
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At 14,700 Mt, |
At 14,700 Mt, Kosova has the world’s fifth-largest proven reserves of [[lignite]], a type of [[coal]]. The lignite is distributed across the Kosova, Dukagjin and Drenica basins, although mining has so far been restricted to the Kosova basin. Coal reserves are found in two main basins and are currently being mined in the coal mines of [[Bardh open-cast coal mine]] and [[Mirash open-cast coal mine]]. |
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Energy sector presents a major potential for development of |
Energy sector presents a major potential for development of Kosova's economy. There are two large coal-fired electrical power plants named "Kosova A" and "Kosova B" and the project to build a larger 2100-MW coal-fired power plant is underway with expected completion in 2012. |
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=== Mining === |
=== Mining === |
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Kosova has [[lead]]-[[zinc]]-[[silver]] mines of Artana (Novo Brdo), Belo Brdo, Stan Terg and Hajvalia mines, and the Crnac mine. During the lead-zinc-silver exploitation at Farbani Potok (Artana-Novo Brdo), about 3 Mt of high-grade [[halloysite]] was discovered. Halloysite is an aluminosilicate clay mineral used as a raw material for [[porcelain]] and [[bone china]]. This is only one of five known exploitable deposits of this very high-value (US$140-450/t) clay, the other four being in New Zealand, Turkey, China and Utah, US. Current world production is estimated at 150,000 t/y. There is also [[nickel]] to be found in Kosova and the largest working mine is in Çikatova (Dushkaja and Suke) and Gllavica (District of Uroševac). There are significant deposits of [[chromium]], [[bauxite]] and [[magnesite]], but mining has been stalled since 1999. |
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=== Unemployment === |
=== Unemployment === |
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A major issue in |
A major issue in Kosova that is undermining Kosova's development is unemployment. Official unemployment rate stands at 40%. [[The World Bank]] states that even with 6 per cent annual growth (twice what Kosova manages at the moment), it would take ten years to cut unemployment by half, from 40 to 20 per cent. {{Fact|04/28/08|date=April 2008}} Persistent unemployment, in particular among the young, will fuel frustration, which would be bad for political peace.[http://centreforeuropeanreform.blogspot.com/2008/02/Kosova-economic-dilemma.html] The unemployment rate among young people age under 25, whom account of approximately 50% of Kosova's population, is much higher, approximately 60%.<ref>"[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTKOSOVA/Country%20Home/21541686/KosovaPAvol1.pdf: Kosova Poverty Assessment] ", World Banl, [[3 October]] [[2007]]</ref> As such, a system of Kosovars going abroad as migrant workers has emerged. Approximately one out of five Kosovar households report having had a family member search for work abroad.<ref>"[http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTKOSOVA/Country%20Home/21541686/KosovaPAvol1.pdf: Kosova Poverty Assessment] ", World Banl, [[3 October]] [[2007]]</ref> Kosova has the youngest population in Europe {{Fact|04/28/08|date=April 2008}}, so in coming years, with significant development of educational sector on Kosova, the current unemployment situation could be improved. {{Fact|04/28/08|date=April 2008}} |
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==Administrative regions== |
==Administrative regions== |
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Kosova, for administrative reasons, is considered as consisting of seven districts. |
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[[North |
[[North Kosova]] maintains its own government, infrastructure and institutions by its dominant ethnic [[Serb]] population in the [[District of Kosovska Mitrovica]], viz. in the [[Leposavić]], [[Zvečan]] and [[Zubin Potok]] municipalities and the northern part of [[Kosovska Mitrovica]]. |
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===Districts=== |
===Districts=== |
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{{main|Subdivisions of |
{{main|Subdivisions of Kosova|Districts of Kosova and Metohija}} |
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===Municipalities and cities=== |
===Municipalities and cities=== |
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{{main|Municipalities of |
{{main|Municipalities of Kosova}} |
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Kosova is also divided into 30 municipalities: |
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{{Municipalities of |
{{Municipalities of Kosova}} |
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==Demographics== |
==Demographics== |
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{{main|Demographics of |
{{main|Demographics of Kosova}} |
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{{summarize}} |
{{summarize}} |
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[[Image: |
[[Image:Kosova ethnic 2005.png|thumb|220px|Ethnic composition of Kosova in 2005 according to the [[OSCE]]]] |
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[[Image: |
[[Image:Kosovaethnicmap.jpg|thumb|220px|Multi ethnic map of Kosova]] |
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According to the |
According to the Kosova in Figures 2005 Survey of the Statistical Office of Kosova,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ks-gov.net/esk/esk/pdf/english/general/Kosova_figures_05.pdf |format=PDF |title=Kosova in figures 2005 |author=UNMIK |publisher=Ministry of Public Services}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4385768.stm |title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide |author=BBC News |date=23/12/05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/3524092.stm |title=churchesRegions and territories: Kosova |author=BBC News |date=20/11/07}}</ref> Kosova's total population is estimated between 1.9 and 2.2 million in the following ethnic proportions: |
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===Ethnic and cultural diversity=== |
===Ethnic and cultural diversity=== |
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[[Islam]] (mostly [[Sunni]], with a [[Bektashi]] minority) is the predominant [[religion]] in |
[[Islam]] (mostly [[Sunni]], with a [[Bektashi]] minority) is the predominant [[religion]] in Kosova, professed by most of the ethnic Albanians (who form the majority of the population), by the Bosniak, Gorani, and Turkish communities, and by some of the Roma/[[Ashkali]]-"[[Egyptians (Balkans)|Egyptian]]" community. The western countries accepted the fact that some 80% of the former 150,000 members of the Roma and Ashkali minority were driven out of the country.<ref>[http://www.gfbv.de/inhaltsDok.php?id=612 Society for Threatened Peoples]</ref> The Serb population, estimated at 100,000 to 120,000 persons, is largely [[Serbian Orthodox]]. About three percent of ethnic Albanians in Kosova are [[Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1591&l=1 |title=Religion in Kosova |author=International Crisis Group |date=31/01/01}}</ref><ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90198.htm#Kosova International Religious Freedom Report 2007 (U.S. Department of States) - Serbia (includes Kosova)]</ref><ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71405.htm#Kosova International Religious Freedom Report 2006 (U.S. Department of States) - Serbia and Montenegro (includes Kosova)]</ref> |
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Kosova comprises a relatively small geographical area but is nevertheless densely covered by numerous Serb Orthodox churches and monasteries. |
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At 1.3% per year, ethnic Albanians in |
At 1.3% per year, ethnic Albanians in Kosova have the fastest rate of growth in population in Europe.<ref>[http://files.osa.ceu.hu/holdings/300/8/3/text/3-13-10.shtml Albanian Population Growth]</ref> Over an 82-year period (1921-2003) the population grew to 460% of its original size. If growth continues at such a pace, the population will reach 4.5 million by 2050.<ref>[http://Kosova-hotels.com/index.php?mod=kos_profile Kosova-Hotels, Prishtina - Kosova-Hotels, Prishtinë]</ref> |
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By contrast, from [[ |
By contrast, from [[Demographics_of_Kosova#World_War_II-1968|1948]] to [[Demographics_of_Kosova#1989-1999:_Centralized_Yugoslav_Control|1991]], the Serb population of Kosova increased by but twelve percent (one third the growth of the population in the rest of Serbia). The population of Albanians in Kosova increased by three hundred percent in the same period -- a rate of growth twenty-five times that of the Serbs in Kosova. |
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==Society== |
==Society== |
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===Cinema and media=== |
===Cinema and media=== |
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{{main|Music of |
{{main|Music of Kosova}} |
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Although in |
Although in Kosova the music is diverse, authentic Albanian music (see ''[[World Music]]'') and [[Serbian music]] do still exist. Albanian music is characterized by the use of the ''[[çiftelia]]'' (an authentic Albanian instrument), ''mandolin'', ''mandola'' and ''percussion''. [[European classical music|Classical music]] is also well-known in Kosova and has been taught at several [[List of pre-college music schools|music schools]] and [[universities]] (at the [[University of Priština#Albanian_university|University of Prishtina Faculty of Arts]] in [[Priština]] and the [[Faculty of Arts of Priština|University of Priština Faculty of Arts]] at [[Kosovska Mitrovica]]). |
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===Sports=== |
===Sports=== |
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{{main|Olympic Committee of |
{{main|Olympic Committee of Kosova|Football Federation of Kosova|Basketball Federation of Kosova|Handball Federation of Kosova|Table Tennis Federation of Kosova}} |
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Several sports federations have been formed in |
Several sports federations have been formed in Kosova within the framework of Law No. 2003/24 "Law on Sport" passed by the Assembly of Kosova in 2003. The law formally established a national [[Olympic Committee of Kosova|Olympic Committee]], regulated the establishment of sports federations and established guidelines for sports clubs. At present only some of the sports federations established have gained international recognition. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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<div style="-moz-column-count:4; column-count:4;"> |
<div style="-moz-column-count:4; column-count:4;"> |
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* [[Assembly of |
* [[Assembly of Kosova]] |
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* [[Government of |
* [[Government of Kosova]] |
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* [[Prime Minister of |
* [[Prime Minister of Kosova]] |
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* [[President of |
* [[President of Kosova]] |
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* [[Serbs in |
* [[Serbs in Kosova]] |
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* [[Albanians in |
* [[Albanians in Kosova]] |
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* [[Post and Telecom of |
* [[Post and Telecom of Kosova]] |
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* [[Albanian nationalism and independence]] |
* [[Albanian nationalism and independence]] |
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* [[Demographic history of |
* [[Demographic history of Kosova]] |
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* [[Unrest in |
* [[Unrest in Kosova|Unrest in Kosova during March 2004]] |
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* [[Metohija]] |
* [[Metohija]] |
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* [[North |
* [[North Kosova]] |
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* [[Flag of |
* [[Flag of Kosova]] |
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* [[2008 |
* [[2008 Kosova declaration of independence]] |
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</div> |
</div> |
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| first = Noel |
| first = Noel |
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| authorlink = Noel Malcolm |
| authorlink = Noel Malcolm |
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| title = |
| title = Kosova: A Short History |
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| publisher = [[Harper Perennial]] |
| publisher = [[Harper Perennial]] |
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| year = 1999 |
| year = 1999 |
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| isbn = 0060977752 }} |
| isbn = 0060977752 }} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{portal| |
{{portal|Kosova|Kosova blue map.png}} |
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{{sisterlinks}} |
{{sisterlinks}} |
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* {{wikiatlas| |
* {{wikiatlas|Kosova}} |
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* [http://www.unmikonline.org/ United Nations Interim Administration in |
* [http://www.unmikonline.org/ United Nations Interim Administration in Kosova] |
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* [http://www.ks-gov.net/pm/Fillimi/tabid/36/menuid/+/subid/+/lingo/2/language/en-US/Default.aspx The Government of |
* [http://www.ks-gov.net/pm/Fillimi/tabid/36/menuid/+/subid/+/lingo/2/language/en-US/Default.aspx The Government of Kosova and Prime minister's office] |
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*[http://www.assembly-kosova.org/ Assembly of |
*[http://www.assembly-kosova.org/ Assembly of Kosova] |
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*[http://www.president-ksgov.net/?id=1,67,67,67,e/ President of |
*[http://www.president-ksgov.net/?id=1,67,67,67,e/ President of Kosova] |
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* [http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/ |
* [http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/Kosova-metohija/?change_lang=en Serbian Government for Kosova and Metohija] |
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* {{CIA World Factbook link|kv| |
* {{CIA World Factbook link|kv|Kosova}} |
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* [http://www.visitkosova.org/english/index.htm Visit |
* [http://www.visitkosova.org/english/index.htm Visit Kosova - Tourism Website] |
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* {{wikitravel}} |
* {{wikitravel}} |
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|title = [[Image:Nuvola_filesystems_www.png|23px]] Geographic national |
|title = [[Image:Nuvola_filesystems_www.png|23px]] Geographic national |
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|list = |
|list = |
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{{ |
{{Kosova}} |
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Revision as of 17:17, 7 June 2008
Template:Redirect4 Template:Redirect6
Kosova | |
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Map of Kosova | |
Capital | Pristina (also Prishtina, Priština) |
Ethnic groups (2007) | 92% Albanians 5.3% Serbs 2.7% others [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 10,908 km2 (4,212 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | n/a |
Population | |
• 2007 estimate | 2,100,000[2] |
• 1991 census | 1,956,1961 |
• Density | 220/km2 (569.8/sq mi) |
GDP (PPP) | 2007 estimate |
• Total | $4 billion[3] (N/A) |
• Per capita | $1,800[3] (151st) |
GDP (nominal) | 2007 estimate |
• Total | $3.237 billion[3] (N/A) |
• Per capita | $1,500[3] (119th) |
Currency | Euro (€) (EUR) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Calling code | 3812 |
Internet TLD | None assigned |
Kosova, UN protectorate | |
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Kosova within Serbia | |
Capital | Pristina |
Government | |
Joachim Rücker | |
Fatmir Sejdiu | |
UN protectorate | |
10 June, 1999 | |
May 2000 | |
• EULEX | 16 February, 2008 |
Currency | Euro (EUR) |
Template:History of Kosova and Metohija
Kosova (Albanian: Kosova; Serbian: Косово и Метохија; [Kosova i Metohija] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a disputed territory in the Balkans. It has been part of the lands of Dardani in the years BC, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian, Serbian and Ottoman empire, then the Kingdom of Serbia, Italian Empire and Yugoslavia in the 20th century. Following the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia the territory came under the interim administration of the United Nations (UNMIK).
In February 2008, the Assembly of Kosova declared Kosova's independence as the Republic of Kosova (Albanian: Republika e Kosovës). Its independence is recognized by some countries and opposed by others, including the Republic of Serbia, which continues to claim sovereignty over it as the Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija (Serbian: Аутономна Покрајина Косово и Метохија / Autonomna Pokrajina Kosova i Metohija).
Kosova borders Albania to the west, Central Serbia to the north and east, the Republic of Macedonia to the south, and Montenegro to the northwest. The largest city and the capital of Kosova is Pristina (also Prishtina, Priština), while other cities include Peć (Peja), Prizren, and Mitrovica.
Name
Kosova (Косово, /ˈkɔsɔvɔ/) is the Serbian possessive adjective of kos (кос) "blackbird",[4][5] an ellipsis for Kosova Polje "field of the blackbirds", the site of the 1389 Battle of Kosova Field. The name of the field was applied to an Ottoman province created in 1864.
The region currently known as "Kosova" became an administrative region in 1946, as the Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija. In 1974, the compositional "Kosova and Metohija" was reduced to simple "Kosova" in the name of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosova, but in 1990 was renamed back to Autonomous Province of Kosova and Metohija.
The entire region is commonly referred to in English simply as Kosova and in Albanian as Kosova. In Serbian, a distinction is made between the eastern and western areas; the term Kosova (Косово) is used for the eastern part, while the western part is called "Metohija" (Метохија).
History
The formation of the Republic of Kosova is a result of the turmoils of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, particularly the Kosova War of 1996 to 1999, but it is suffused with issues dating back to the rise of nationalism in the Balkans under Ottoman rule in the 19th century, Albanian vs. Serbian nationalisms in particular, the latter notably surrounding the Battle of Kosova eponymous of the Kosova region.
Early history
During the Neolithic period, the region of Kosova lay within the extent of the Vinča-Turdaş culture. In the 4th to 3rd centuries BC, it was the territory of the Thraco-Illyrian tribe of the Dardani, forming part of the kingdom of Illyria. Illyria was conquered by Rome in the 160s BC, and made the Roman province of Illyricum in 59 BC. The Kosova region became part of Moesia Superior in AD 87. The Slavic migrations reached the Balkans in the 6th to 7th century. The area was absorbed into the Bulgarian Empire in the 850s, where Christianity and Slavic culture was cemented in the region. It was re-taken by the Byzantines after 1018. As the center of Slavic resistance to Constantinople in the region, it often switched between Serbian and Bulgarian rule on one hand and Byzantine on the other until the Serb principality of Rascia conquered it by the end of the 11th century. The Kosova region became part of Moesia Superior in AD 87. The Slavic migrations reached the Balkans in the 6th to 7th century. Fully absorbed into the Serbian Kingdom until the end of the 12th, it became the secular and spiritual center of the Serbian medieval state of the Nemanyiden dynasty in the 13th century, with the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Peć, while Prizren was the secular center. The zenith was reached with the formation of a Serbian Empire in 1346, which after 1371 transformed from a centralized absolutist medieval monarchy to a feudal realm. Kosova became the hereditary land of the House of Branković and Vučitrn and Pristina flourished.
In the 1389 Battle of Kosova, Ottoman forces defeated a coalition led by Lazar Hrebeljanović. In 1402, a Serbian Despotate was raised and Kosova became its richest territory, famous for mines. The local House of Branković came to prominence as the local lords of Kosova, under Vuk Branković, with the temporary fall of the Serbian Despotate in 1439. During the first fall of Serbia, Novo Brdo and Kosova offered last resistance to the invading Ottomans in 1441; in 1455, it was finally and fully conquered by the Ottoman Empire.
Ottoman Kosova (1455 to 1912)
Kosova was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1455 to 1912, at first as part of the eyalet of Rumelia, and from 1864 as a separate province.
Kosova was briefly taken by the Austrian forces during the Great War of 1683–1699 with help of 6,000 Albanian fighters led by Pjetër Bogdani. In 1690, the Serbian Patriarch of Peć Arsenije III led 37,000 predominantly Serbian families out of Kosova. More migrations of Orthodox Christians from the Kosova area continued throughout the 18th century. In 1766, the Ottomans abolished the Patriarchate of Peć and the position of Christians in Kosova deteriorated, including full imposition of jizya (taxation of non-Muslims). In contrast, many Albanian chiefs converted to Islam and gained prominent positions in the Turkish regimen.[6] On the whole, "Albanians had little cause of unrest" and "if anything, grew important in Ottoman internal affairs."[7] The final result of four and a half centuries of Muslim rule was a marked decline in the previously dominant Slavic Christian demographic element in Kosova, replaced by a Turko-Albanian [8] stratum.
In the 19th century, there was a "awakening" of ethnic nationalism throughout the Balkans. The ethnic Albanian nationalism movement was centred in Kosova.
In 1871, a Serbian meeting was held in Prizren at which the possible retaking and reintegration of Kosova and the rest of "Old Serbia" was discussed, as the Principality of Serbia itself had already made plans for expansions towards Ottoman territory. In 1878, a Peace Accord was drawn that left the cities of Pristina and Kosovska Mitrovica under civil Serbian control, and outside Ottoman jurisdiction, while the rest of Kosova remained under Ottoman control. As a response, ethnic Albanians formed the League of Prizren, pursuing political aspirations of unifying the Albanian people under the Ottoman umbrella.
20th century
Balkan Wars to World War I
The Young Turk movement supported a centralist rule and opposed any sort of autonomy desired by Kosovars, and particularly the Albanians. In 1910, an Albanian uprising spread from Pristina and lasted until the Ottoman Sultan's visit to Kosova in June of 1911. In 1912, during the Balkan Wars, most of Kosova was captured by the Kingdom of Serbia, while the region of Metohija (Albanian: Dukagjini Valley) was taken by the Kingdom of Montenegro. An exodus of the local Albanian population occurred. This was described by Leon Trotsky, who was a reporter for the Pravda newspaper at the time. The Serbian authorities planned a re-colonization of Kosova.[9] Numerous colonist Serb families moved into Kosova, equalizing the demographic balance between Albanians and Serbs. Kosova's status within Serbia was finalised the following year at the Treaty of London.[10]
In the winter of 1915-1916, during World War I, Kosova saw a large exodus of the Serbian army which became known as the Great Serbian Retreat, as Kosova was occupied by Bulgarians and Austro-Hungarians. In 1918, the Serbian Army pushed the Central Powers out of Kosova. After World War I ended, the Monarchy was then transformed into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians on 1 December 1918.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia and World War II
The 1918–1929 period of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians witnessed a rise of the Serbian population in the region. Kosova was split into four counties, three being a part of Serbia (Zvečan, Kosova and southern Metohija) and one of Montenegro (northern Metohija). However, the new administration system since 26 April 1922 split Kosova among three Areas of the Kingdom: Kosova, Rascia and Zeta. In 1929, the Kingdom was transformed into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the territories of Kosova were reorganised among the Banate of Zeta, the Banate of Morava and the Banate of Vardar. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia lasted until the World War II Axis invasion of 1941, when the greatest part of Kosova became a part of Italian-controlled Albania, and smaller bits by the Tsardom of Bulgaria and German-occupied Military Administration of Serbia. After numerous uprisings of Partisans led by Fadil Hoxha, Kosova was liberated after 1944 with the help of the Albanian partisans of the Comintern, and became a province of Serbia within the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia.
Kosova in Yugoslavia
The province was first formed in 1945 as the Autonomous Kosova-Metohian Area to protect its regional Albanian majority within the People's Republic of Serbia as a member of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia under the leadership of the former Partisan leader, Josip Broz Tito. After Yugoslavia's name change to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia's to the Socialist Republic of Serbia in 1953, Kosova gained limited internal autonomy in the 1960s. In the 1974 constitution, the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosova's government received more powers, including the highest governmental titles – President and Prime Minister and a seat in the Federal Presidency which made it a de facto Republic within the Federation, but remaining a Socialist Autonomous Province within the Socialist Republic of Serbia. (Similar rights were extended to Vojvodina). In Kosova Serbo-Croatian, Albanian and Turkish were defined as official languages on the provincial level. Du to high birthrates the number of Albanians increased from 75% to over 90% despite immigration from both sides in search of a better life in the West. In contrast, the number of Serbs barely increased, and in fact dropped from 15% to 8% of the total population, as many Serbs departed from Kosova as a response to the tight economic climate and increased incidents of alleged harassment from their Albanian neighbors. While there was tension, charges of "genocide" and planned harassments have been debunked as an excuse to revoke Kosova's autonomy. For example in 1986 ""the Serbian Orthodox Church published an official, though false, claim that Kosova Serbs were being subjected to an Albanian program of 'Genocide'. Even though they were disproven[2] by police statistics, the received wide play in the Serbian press and that lead to further ethnic problems and eventual removal of Kosova's status. Beginning in March 1981, Kosovar Albanian students organized protests seeking that Kosova become a republic within Yugoslavia and human rights.[11] During the 1980s, ethnic tensions continued with frequent violent outbreaks against Yugoslav state authorities resulting in a further increase in emigration of Kosova Serbs and other ethnic groups.[12][13] The Yugoslav leadership tried to suppress protests of Kosova Serbs seeking protection from ethnic discrimination and violence.[14]
Disintegration of Yugoslavia and Kosova War
Inter-ethnic tensions continued to worsen in Kosova throughout the 1980s. The 1986 SANU Memorandum warned that Yugoslavia was suffering from ethnic strife and the disintegration of the Yugoslav economy into separate economic sectors and territories, which was transforming the federal state into a loose confederation.[15] On June 28 1989, Milošević delivered a speech in front of a large number of Serb citizens at the main celebration marking the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kosova, held at Gazimestan. Many think that this speech helped Milošević consolidate his authority in Serbia.[16] In 1989, Milošević, employing a mix of intimidation and political maneuvering, drastically reduced Kosova's special autonomous status within Serbia. Soon thereafter, Kosova Albanians organized a non-violent separatist movement, employing widespread civil disobedience, with the ultimate goal of achieving the independence of Kosova. On July 2 1990, an unconstitutional Kosova parliament declared Kosova an independent country, the Republic of Kosova. The Republic of Kosova was formally disbanded in 2000 when its institutions were replaced by the Joint Interim Administrative Structure established by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova (UNMIK). During its lifetime, the Republic of Kosova was only recognized by Albania.
The Kosova War was initially a conflict between Serbian and Yugoslav security forces and the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA), an ethnic Albanian guerrilla group identified by some as terrorist.[3], seeking secession from the former Yugoslavia. In 1998, Western interest had increased and the Serbian authorities were compelled to sign a unilateral cease-fire and partial retreat. Under an agreement devised by Richard Holbrooke, OSCE observers moved into Kosova to monitor the ceasefire, while Yugoslav military forces partly pulled out of Kosova. However, the ceasefire was systematically broken shortly thereafter by KLA forces, which again provoked harsh counterattacks by the Serbs.[citation needed]
The Serbs then began to escalate the conflict, using military and paramilitary forces in another ethnic cleansing campaign this time against the Kosovar Albanians. An estimated 300,000 refugees were displaced during the winter of 1998, many left without adequate food or shelter, precipitating a humanitarian crisis and calls for intervention by the international community.
NATO intervention between March 24 and June 10 1999,[17] combined with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces resulted in a massive displacement of population in Kosova.[18] During the conflict, roughly a million ethnic Albanians fled or were forcefully driven from Kosova. Altogether, more than 11,000 deaths have been reported to Carla Del Ponte by her prosecutors.[19] Some 3,000 people are still missing, of which 2,500 are Albanian, 400 Serbs and 100 Roma.[20]
The UN administration period
On June 10, 1999, the UN Security Council passed UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which placed Kosova under transitional UN administration (UNMIK) and authorized KFOR, a NATO-led peacekeeping force. Resolution 1244 provided that Kosova would have autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and affirmed Yugoslavia's territorial integrity.[21] It is important to note that the Republic of Serbia is the legally recognized successor of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [citation needed]
Some 200,000-280,000, representing the majority of the Serb population, left when the Serbian forces left. There was also some looting of Serb properties and even violence against some of those Serbs and Roma who remained.[22] The current number of internally displaced persons is disputed,[23][24][25][26] with estimates ranging from 65,000[27] to 250,000.[28][29][30] Many displaced Serbs are afraid to return to their homes, even with UNMIK protection. Around 120,000-150,000 Serbs remain in Kosova, but are subject to ongoing harassment and discrimination. According to Amnesty International, the aftermath of the war resulted in an increase in the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation.[31][32][33]
In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a Constitutional Framework for Kosova that established the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG), including an elected Kosova Assembly, Presidency and office of Prime Minister. Kosova held its first free, Kosova-wide elections in late 2001 (municipal elections had been held the previous year).
In March 2004, Kosova experienced its worst inter-ethnic violence since the Kosova War. The unrest in 2004 was sparked by a series of minor events that soon cascaded into large-scale riots.[34]
International negotiations began in 2006 to determine the final status of Kosova, as envisaged under UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The UN-backed talks, lead by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, began in February 2006. Whilst progress was made on technical matters, both parties remained diametrically opposed on the question of status itself.[35]
In February 2007, Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, the basis for a draft UN Security Council Resolution which proposes 'supervised independence' for the province. A draft resolution, backed by the United States, the United Kingdom and other European members of the Security Council, was presented and rewritten four times to try to accommodate Russian concerns that such a resolution would undermine the principle of state sovereignty.[36] Russia, which holds a veto in the Security Council as one of five permanent members, had stated that it would not support any resolution which was not acceptable to both Belgrade and Kosova Albanians.[37] Whilst most observers had, at the beginning of the talks, anticipated independence as the most likely outcome, others have suggested that a rapid resolution might not be preferable.[38]
After many weeks of discussions at the UN, the United States, United Kingdom and other European members of the Security Council formally 'discarded' a draft resolution backing Ahtisaari's proposal on 20 July 2007, having failed to secure Russian backing. Beginning in August, a "Troika" consisting of negotiators from the European Union (Wolfgang Ischinger), the United States (Frank Wisner) and Russia (Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko) launched a new effort to reach a status outcome acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina. Despite Russian disapproval, the U.S., the United Kingdom, and France appeared likely to recognize Kosovar independence.[39] A declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until the end of the Serbian presidential elections (4 February 2008). Most EU members and the US had feared that a premature declaration could boost support in Serbia for the ultra-nationalist candidate, Tomislav Nikolić.[40]
2008 declaration of independence
The Kosovar Assembly approved a declaration of independence on 17 February 2008.[41] Over the following days, several states (the United States, Turkey, Albania, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Republic of China (Taiwan),[42] Australia and others) announced their recognition, despite protests by Serbia in the UN Security Council.[43]
The UN Security Council remains divided on the question (as of 25 February 2008). Of the five members with veto power, USA, UK, and France recognized the declaration of independence, and Russia and the People's Republic of China consider it illegal. As of 28 March 2008, no member-country of CIS, CSTO or SCO has recognized Kosova as independent.[citation needed]
The European Union has no official position towards Kosova's status, but has decided to deploy the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosova to ensure a continuation of international civil presence in Kosova. As of today, most of member-countries of NATO, EU, WEU and OECD have recognized Kosova as independent.[citation needed]
Of Kosova's immediate neighbour states, only Albania recognizes the declaration of independence. Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary, all neighbours of Serbia, announced in a joint statement that they recognise the declaration.[44]
Geography
Kosova has an area of 10,908 square kilometers[45] and a population of about 2.2 million. The largest cities are Pristina, the capital, with an estimated 170,000 inhabitants, Prizren in the south west with a population of 110,000, Peć in the west with 70,000, and Kosovska Mitrovica in the north with 70,000. The climate is continental, with warm summers and cold and snowy winters. Most of Kosova's terrain in mountainous, the highest peak is Đeravica/Gjeravica (2656 m). There are two main plain regions, the Metohija basin is located in the western part of the Kosova, and the Plain of Kosova occupies the eastern part. The main rivers of the region are the White Drin, running towards the Adriatic Sea, with the Erenik among its tributaries), the Sitnica, the South Morava in the Goljak area, and Ibar in the north. The biggest lakes are Gazivoda, Radonjić, Batlava and Badovac.
Phytogeographically, Kosova belongs to the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the European Environment Agency, the territory of Kosova belongs to the ecoregion of Balkan mixed forests.
Governance and constitutional status
Kosova is under de facto governance of the Republic of Kosova except for North Kosova, which remains under de facto governance of Serbia. The Republic of Kosova continues to operate with the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government elected in 2007, and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova which operates police, justice and civil administration. Serbian provincial elections are pending for 11 May 2008.
Autonomous Province under UN administration
In 1999, UN Security Council Resolution 1244 placed Kosova under transitional UN administration pending a determination of Kosova's future status. This Resolution entrusted the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova (UNMIK) with sweeping powers to govern Kosova, but also directed UNMIK to establish interim institutions of self-governance. Resolution 1244 permits Serbia no official role in governing Kosova and since 1999 Serbian laws and institutions have not been valid in Kosova. NATO has a separate mandate to provide for a safe and secure environment.
In May 2001, UNMIK promulgated the Constitutional Framework, which established Kosova's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). The PISG replaced the Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS) established a year earlier. Since 2001, UNMIK has been gradually transferring increased governing competencies to the PISG, while reserving some powers that are normally carried out by sovereign states, such as foreign affairs. Kosova has also established municipal government and an internationally-supervised Kosova Police Service.
According to the Constitutional Framework, Kosova shall have a 120-member Kosova Assembly. The Assembly includes twenty reserved seats: ten for Kosova Serbs and ten for non-Serb minorities (Bosniaks, Roma, etc). The Kosova Assembly is responsible for electing a President and Prime Minister of Kosova.
However, since 1999, the Serb-inhabited areas of Kosova, such as North Kosova have remained de facto independent from the Albanian-dominated government in Priština. They continue to uses Serbian national symbols and participate in Serbian national elections, which are boycotted in the rest of Kosova. Serb-inhabited regions also boycott Kosova elections. The municipalities of Leposavić, Zvečan and Zubin Potok are run by local Serbs, while the Kosovska Mitrovica municipality had rival Serb and Albanian governments until a compromise was agreed in November 2002.[citation needed]
In February 2003, the Serb areas united to form the Union of Serbian Districts and District Units of Kosova and Metohija in a meeting in Kosovska Mitrovica, which has since served as the de facto "capital." The Union's President is Dragan Velić. There is also a central governing body, the Serbian National Council for Kosova and Metohija (SNV). The President of SNV in North Kosova is Dr Milan Ivanović, while the head of its Executive Council is Rada Trajković.
Local politics in the Serb areas are dominated by the Serbian List for Kosova and Metohija. The Serbian List is led by Oliver Ivanović, an engineer from Kosovska Mitrovica.
In February of 2007 the Union of Serbian Districts and District Units of Kosova and Metohija transformed into the Serbian Assembly of Kosova and Metohija, presided by Marko Jakšić. The Assembly has strongly criticized the secessionist movements of the Albanian-dominated PISG Assembly of Kosova. It has demanded unity of the Serb people in Kosova, boycotted EULEX, and announced massive protests in support of Serbia's sovereignty over Kosova. On 18 February 2008, day after Kosova's unilateral declaration of independence, the Assembly declared it "null and void".
Within Serbia, Kosova is the concern of the Ministry for Kosova and Metohija, currently led by Slobodan Samardzic.
Republic of Kosova
A new constitution for Republic of Kosova has been approved by the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova and is planned to come into force in June 2008.[46]
Foreign relations
There are currently eight countries maintaining embassies to the Republic of Kosova: Albania,[47] Austria,[48] Germany,[49] the United Kingdom, [50] the United States,[51] Switzerland (also representing Liechtenstein),[52] and Italy.[53] As of May 2008, 40 countries recognize Kosova as independent.
Skënder Hyseni is Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kosova. [54]
Military
The military of Kosova is still in the process of being organized following the partially recognized declaration of independence of February 17 2008. Following the Kosova War in 1999, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 placed Kosova under the authority of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova (UNMIK), with security provided by the NATO-led Kosova Force (KFOR).[55]
Rule of law
Following the Kosova War, due to many weapons in hands of civilians, law enforcement inefficiencies and widespread devastation, there was a tremendous surge in revenge killings and ethnic violence. The number of reported murders rose from 136 in 2000 to 245 in 2001. The number of reported arsons rose from 218 to 523 in the same period. UNMIK points out that the rise in reported incidents may correspond to an increased confidence in the police force rather than more crime. The number of noted serious crimes saw an increase between 1999 and 2000, since then it has been "starting to resemble the same patterns of other European cities."[56] [57]Organized crime continues to be a significant problem. However, there has been tremendous improvement in police action and by 2008, "murder rates in Kosova have been in steady decline, dropping by 75 percent since 2003 with the current recorded rate today under three per 100,000 people" [4] a rate comparable to that of Switzerland[5], Ireland or Findland[6].
Politics
The largest political party in Kosova, the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), has its origins in the 1990s non-violent resistance movement to Miloševic's rule. The party was led by Ibrahim Rugova until his death in 2006.[58] The two next largest parties have their roots in the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA): the Democratic Party of Kosova (PDK) led by former KLA leader Hashim Thaci and the Alliance for the Future of Kosova (AAK) led by former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj.[59] Kosova publisher Veton Surroi formed his own political party in 2004 named "Ora." Kosova Serbs formed the Serb List for Kosova and Metohija (SLKM) in 2004, but have boycotted Kosova's institutions and never taken their seats in the Kosova Assembly.[60]
In November 2001, the OSCE supervised the first elections for the Kosova Assembly.[61] After that election, Kosova's political parties formed an all-party unity coalition and elected Ibrahim Rugova as President and Bajram Rexhepi (PDK) as Prime Minister.[62] After Kosova-wide elections in October 2004, the LDK and AAK formed a new governing coalition that did not include PDK and Ora. This coalition agreement resulted in Ramush Haradinaj (AAK) becoming Prime Minister, while Ibrahim Rugova retained the position of President. PDK and Ora were critical of the coalition agreement and have since frequently accused the current government of corruption.[citation needed]
Ramush Haradinaj resigned the post of Prime Minister after he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in March 2005. He was replaced by Bajram Kosumi (AAK).[63] But in a political shake-up after the death of President Rugova in January 2006, Kosumi himself was replaced by former Kosova Protection Corps commander Agim Ceku.[64] Ceku has won recognition for his outreach to minorities, but Serbia has been critical of his wartime past as military leader of the KLA and claims he is still not doing enough for Kosova Serbs. The Kosova Assembly elected Fatmir Sejdiu, a former LDK parliamentarian, president after Rugova's death. Slaviša Petkovic, Minister for Communities and Returns, was previously the only ethnic Serb in the government, but resigned in November 2006 amid allegations that he misused ministry funds.[65][66] Today two of the total thirteen ministries in Kosova's Government have ministers from the minorities. Branislav Grbic, ethnic Serb, leads Minister of Returns and Sadik Idriz, ethnic Bošnjak, leads Ministry of Health[67]
Parliamentary elections were held on 17 November 2007. After early results, Hashim Thaçi who was on course to gain 35 per cent of the vote, claimed victory for PDK, the Albanian Democratic Party, and stated his intention to declare independence. Thaçi has since formed a coalition with current President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League which was in second place with 22 percent of the vote.[68] The turnout at the election was particularly low with most Serbs refusing to vote.[69]
Economy
Kosova has one of the most under-developed economies in Europe, with a per capita income estimated at €1,565 (2004).[70] Despite substantial development subsidies from all Yugoslav republics, Kosova was the poorest province of Yugoslavia.[71] Additionally, over the course of the 1990s a blend of poor economic policies, international sanctions, poor external commerce and ethnic conflict severely damaged the economy.[72]
Kosova's economy remains weak. After a jump in 2000 and 2001, growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was negative in 2002 and 2003 and is expected to be around 3 percent 2004-2005, with domestic sources of growth unable to compensate for the declining foreign assistance. Inflation is low, while the budget posted a deficit for the first time in 2004. Kosova has high external deficits. In 2004, the deficit of the balance of goods and services was close to 70 percent of GDP. Remittances from Kosovars living abroad accounts for an estimated 13 percent of GDP, and foreign assistance for around 34 percent of GDP.
Most economic development since 1999 has taken place in the trade, retail and the construction sectors. The private sector that has emerged since 1999 is mainly small-scale. The industrial sector remains weak and the electric power supply remains unreliable, acting as a key constraint. Unemployment remains pervasive, at around 40-50% of the labor force.[73]
UNMIK introduced an external trade regime and customs administration on September 3, 1999 when it set customs border controls in Kosova. All goods imported in Kosova face a flat 10% customs duty fee.[74] These taxes are collected from all Tax Collection Points installed at the borders of Kosova, including those between Kosova and Serbia.[75] UNMIK and Kosova institutions have signed Free Trade Agreements with Croatia,[76] Bosnia and Herzegovina,[77] Albania and Republic of Macedonia.[74]
The euro is the official currency of Kosova and used by UNMIK and the government bodies.[78] The Serbian dinar is used in the Serbian-populated parts. [citation needed]
The chief means of entry to this landlocked country, apart form the main highway leading to the south to Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, is Pristina International Airport.
Trade and investment
Kosova's 2006 trade balance was total exports(FOB) $154mil and total imports(CIF) $1,612mil.
The Republic of Macedonia is Kosova's largest import and export market (averaging €220 million and €9 million, respectively or 20% of whole Kosova's trade), followed by Serbia (€111 million and €5 million app 12%), Germany (app 10% of total trade), China (app from 5-9% depending on season) and Turkey (app 6% of total imports). In total EU's 27 countries are Kosova's biggest trade partner, 35% of all Kosova's imports are coming from EU and app 50-60% of Kosova's $150 million exports are going in EU27.[79]
The economy is hindered by Kosova's still-unresolved international status, which has made it difficult to attract investment and loans.[80] The province's economic weakness has produced a thriving black economy in which smuggled petrol, cigarettes and cement are major commodities. The prevalence of official corruption and the pervasive influence of organised crime gangs has caused serious concern internationally. The United Nations has made the fight against corruption and organised crime a high priority, pledging a "zero tolerance" approach.
Kosova has a reported foreign debt of 1,264 billion USD that is currently serviced by Serbia.
According to ECIKS from 2001 to 2004 Kosova received $3,2 billion of foreign aid. International donnor conference is to be held in Switzerland in June or July 2008. Until now EU pledged 2 billion €, $350 mil by USA. Serbia also pledged 120 million € to Serb's enclaves in Kosova.
Energy sector
At 14,700 Mt, Kosova has the world’s fifth-largest proven reserves of lignite, a type of coal. The lignite is distributed across the Kosova, Dukagjin and Drenica basins, although mining has so far been restricted to the Kosova basin. Coal reserves are found in two main basins and are currently being mined in the coal mines of Bardh open-cast coal mine and Mirash open-cast coal mine.
Energy sector presents a major potential for development of Kosova's economy. There are two large coal-fired electrical power plants named "Kosova A" and "Kosova B" and the project to build a larger 2100-MW coal-fired power plant is underway with expected completion in 2012.
Mining
Kosova has lead-zinc-silver mines of Artana (Novo Brdo), Belo Brdo, Stan Terg and Hajvalia mines, and the Crnac mine. During the lead-zinc-silver exploitation at Farbani Potok (Artana-Novo Brdo), about 3 Mt of high-grade halloysite was discovered. Halloysite is an aluminosilicate clay mineral used as a raw material for porcelain and bone china. This is only one of five known exploitable deposits of this very high-value (US$140-450/t) clay, the other four being in New Zealand, Turkey, China and Utah, US. Current world production is estimated at 150,000 t/y. There is also nickel to be found in Kosova and the largest working mine is in Çikatova (Dushkaja and Suke) and Gllavica (District of Uroševac). There are significant deposits of chromium, bauxite and magnesite, but mining has been stalled since 1999.
Unemployment
A major issue in Kosova that is undermining Kosova's development is unemployment. Official unemployment rate stands at 40%. The World Bank states that even with 6 per cent annual growth (twice what Kosova manages at the moment), it would take ten years to cut unemployment by half, from 40 to 20 per cent. [citation needed] Persistent unemployment, in particular among the young, will fuel frustration, which would be bad for political peace.[7] The unemployment rate among young people age under 25, whom account of approximately 50% of Kosova's population, is much higher, approximately 60%.[81] As such, a system of Kosovars going abroad as migrant workers has emerged. Approximately one out of five Kosovar households report having had a family member search for work abroad.[82] Kosova has the youngest population in Europe [citation needed], so in coming years, with significant development of educational sector on Kosova, the current unemployment situation could be improved. [citation needed]
Administrative regions
Kosova, for administrative reasons, is considered as consisting of seven districts. North Kosova maintains its own government, infrastructure and institutions by its dominant ethnic Serb population in the District of Kosovska Mitrovica, viz. in the Leposavić, Zvečan and Zubin Potok municipalities and the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica.
Districts
Municipalities and cities
Kosova is also divided into 30 municipalities: Template:Municipalities of Kosova
Demographics
According to the Kosova in Figures 2005 Survey of the Statistical Office of Kosova,[83][84][85] Kosova's total population is estimated between 1.9 and 2.2 million in the following ethnic proportions:
Ethnic and cultural diversity
Islam (mostly Sunni, with a Bektashi minority) is the predominant religion in Kosova, professed by most of the ethnic Albanians (who form the majority of the population), by the Bosniak, Gorani, and Turkish communities, and by some of the Roma/Ashkali-"Egyptian" community. The western countries accepted the fact that some 80% of the former 150,000 members of the Roma and Ashkali minority were driven out of the country.[86] The Serb population, estimated at 100,000 to 120,000 persons, is largely Serbian Orthodox. About three percent of ethnic Albanians in Kosova are Roman Catholic.[87][88][89]
Kosova comprises a relatively small geographical area but is nevertheless densely covered by numerous Serb Orthodox churches and monasteries.
At 1.3% per year, ethnic Albanians in Kosova have the fastest rate of growth in population in Europe.[90] Over an 82-year period (1921-2003) the population grew to 460% of its original size. If growth continues at such a pace, the population will reach 4.5 million by 2050.[91]
By contrast, from 1948 to 1991, the Serb population of Kosova increased by but twelve percent (one third the growth of the population in the rest of Serbia). The population of Albanians in Kosova increased by three hundred percent in the same period -- a rate of growth twenty-five times that of the Serbs in Kosova.
Society
Cinema and media
Although in Kosova the music is diverse, authentic Albanian music (see World Music) and Serbian music do still exist. Albanian music is characterized by the use of the çiftelia (an authentic Albanian instrument), mandolin, mandola and percussion. Classical music is also well-known in Kosova and has been taught at several music schools and universities (at the University of Prishtina Faculty of Arts in Priština and the University of Priština Faculty of Arts at Kosovska Mitrovica).
Sports
Several sports federations have been formed in Kosova within the framework of Law No. 2003/24 "Law on Sport" passed by the Assembly of Kosova in 2003. The law formally established a national Olympic Committee, regulated the establishment of sports federations and established guidelines for sports clubs. At present only some of the sports federations established have gained international recognition.
See also
- Assembly of Kosova
- Government of Kosova
- Prime Minister of Kosova
- President of Kosova
- Serbs in Kosova
- Albanians in Kosova
- Post and Telecom of Kosova
- Albanian nationalism and independence
- Demographic history of Kosova
- Unrest in Kosova during March 2004
- Metohija
- North Kosova
- Flag of Kosova
- 2008 Kosova declaration of independence
References
- ^ Enti i Statistikës së Kosovës
- ^ See: [1] UN estimate, Kosova’s population estimates range from 1.9 to 2.4 million. The last two population census conducted in 1981 and 1991 estimated Kosova’s population at 1.6 and 1.9 million respectively, but the 1991 census probably undercounted Albanians. The latest estimate in 2001 by OSCE puts the number at 2.4 Million. The World Factbook gives an estimate of 2,126,708 for the year 2007 (see "Kosova". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency.).
- ^ a b c d CIA - The World Factbook - Kosova, updated on March 20 2008, accessed on April 5 2008.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ "The name Kosova". Dr John-Peter Maher, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, Northeastern Illinois University
- ^ The Balkans. From Constantinople to Communism. Dennis Hupchik
- ^ Hupchik
- ^ Kosova.Catholic Encyclopaedia
- ^ Elsie, R. (ed.) (2002): "Gathering Clouds. The roots of ethnic cleansing in Kosova. Early twentieth-century documents". Dukagjini Balkan Books, Peja (Kosova, Serbia). ISBN 9951-05-016-6
- ^ Treaty of London, 1913
- ^ New York Times 1981-04-19, "One Storm has Passed but Others are Gathering in Yugoslavia"
- ^ Reuters 1986-05-27, "Kosova Province Revives Yugoslavia's Ethnic Nightmare"
- ^ Christian Science Monitor 1986-07-28, "Tensions among ethnic groups in Yugoslavia begin to boil over"
- ^ New York Times 1987-06-27, "Belgrade Battles Kosova Serbs"
- ^ SANU (1986): Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts Memorandum. GIP Kultura. Belgrade.
- ^ The Economist, June 05, 1999, U.S. Edition, 1041 words, "What's next for Slobodan Milošević?"
- ^ "Operation Allied Force". NATO.
- ^ Larry Minear, Ted van Baarda, Marc Sommers (2000). "NATO and Humanitarian Action in the Kosova Crisis" (PDF). Brown University.
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- ^ KiM Info-Service (07/06/00). "3,000 missing in Kosova".
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(help) - ^ "RESOLUTION 1244 (1999)". BBC News. 1999-06-17. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
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(help) - ^ "Kosova: The Human Rights Situation and the Fate of Persons Displaced from Their Homes (.pdf) ", report by Alvaro Gil-Robles, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Strasbourg, October 16 2002, p. 30.
- ^ UNHCR, Critical Appraisal of Responsee Mechanisms Operating in Kosova for Minority Returns, Pristina, February 2004, p. 14.
- ^ U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), April 2000, Reversal of Fortune: Yugoslavia's Refugees Crisis Since the Ethnic Albanian Return to Kosova, p. 2–3.
- ^ "Kosova: The human rights situation and the fate of persons displaced from their homes (.pdf) ", report by Alvaro Gil-Robles, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Strasbourg, October 16 2002.
- ^ International Relations and Security Network (ISN): Serbians return to Kosova not impossible, says report (.pdf) , by Tim Judah, June 7 2004.
- ^ European Stability Initiative (ESI): The Lausanne Principle: Multiethnicity, Territory and the Future of Kosova's Serbs (.pdf) , June 7 2004.
- ^ Coordinating Centre of Serbia for Kosova-Metohija: Principles of the program for return of internally displaced persons from Kosova and Metohija .
- ^ UNHCR: 2002 Annual Statistical Report: Serbia and Montenegro, pg. 9
- ^ U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI): Country report: Serbia and Montenegro 2006.
- ^ Kosova UN troops 'fuel sex trade', BBC.
- ^ Kosova: Trafficked women and girls have human rights, Amnesty International.
- ^ Nato force 'feeds Kosova sex trade', Guardian Unlimited.
- ^ U.S State Department Report, published in 2007.
- ^ "UN frustrated by Kosova deadlock ", BBC News, October 9 2006.
- ^ Southeast European Times (29/06/2007). "Russia reportedly rejects fourth draft resolution on Kosova status".
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(help) - ^ Southeast European Times (09/07/07). "UN Security Council remains divided on Kosova".
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(help) - ^ James Dancer (30/03/07). "A long reconciliation process is required". Financial Times.
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(help) - ^ Simon Tisdall (13/11/07). "Bosnian nightmare returns to haunt EU". The Guardian.
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(help) - ^ BBC NEWS | Europe | Q&A: Kosova's future
- ^ "Kosova MPs proclaim independence", BBC News Online, 17 February 2008
- ^ Hsu, Jenny W (2008-02-20). "Taiwan officially recognizes Kosova". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ^ "Recognition for new Kosova grows", BBC News Online, 18 February 2008
- ^ BBC News, Serbia's neighbours accept Kosova , accessed 12:41 19 March 2008.
- ^ "Statistical Office of Kosova".
- ^ Constitution of Kosova - Official Website
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ^ "Austrian representations - Kosova". Austrian Foreign Ministry. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ Deutsche Botschaft Pristina - Startseite
- ^ British Office Pristina, Kosova
- ^ Website of the US Embassy, Pristina 9 March 2008
- ^ swissinfo.ch 28 March 2008
- ^ "Italian Embassy in Pristina", qn.quotidiano.net, 19 March 2008. Link accessed 2008-04-26. Template:It icon
- ^ http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8228
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Kosova Military of Kosova
- ^ UNMIK statistics
- ^ Kosova Crime Wave, 17 January 2001
- ^ "Kosova Update: Main Political Parties ", European Forum, 18 March 2008
- ^ "Kosova Update: Main Political Parties ", European Forum, 18 March 2008
- ^ "Kosova Update: Main Political Parties ", European Forum, 18 March 2008
- ^ "OSCE Mission in Kosova - Elections ", Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
- ^ "Power-sharing deal reached in Kosova ", BBC News, 21 February 2002
- ^ "Timeline: Kosova ", BBC News, 11 April 2008
- ^ "Former Rebel set to lead Kosova ", BBC News, 2 March 2006
- ^ "Kosova: Serb minister resigns over misuse of funds ", Adnkronos international (AKI), November 27 2006
- ^ "Sole Kosova Serb cabinet minister resigns: PM ", Agence France-Presse (AFP), November 24 2006.
- ^ Fillimi
- ^ "Kosova gets pro-independence PM ", BBC News, 9 January 2008
- ^ EuroNews: Ex-guerrilla chief claims victory in Kosova election. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
- ^ The World Bank (2006). "Kosova Brief 2006".
- ^ Christian Science Monitor 1982-01-15, "Why Turbulent Kosova has Marble Sidewalks but Troubled Industries"
- ^ The World Bank (2006/2007). "World Bank Mission in Kosova".
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(help) - ^ eciks (04/05/06). "May finds Kosova with 50% unemployed".
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(help) - ^ a b U.S. Commercial Service. "Doing Business in Kosova".
- ^ Economic Reconstruction and Development in South East Europe. "External Trade and Customs" (PDF).
- ^ B92 (02/10/06). "Croatia, Kosova sign Interim Free Trade Agreement". mrt.com.
{{cite web}}
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(help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ EU in Kosova (17/02/06). "UNMIK and Bosnia and Herzegovina Initial Free Trade Agreement" (PDF). UNMIK.
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(help) - ^ EU in Kosova. "Invest in Kosova".
- ^ The World Bank (April 2006). "Kosova Monthly Economic Briefing: Preparing for next winter" (PDF).
- ^ BBC News (03/05/05). "Brussels offers first Kosova loan".
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Kosova Poverty Assessment ", World Banl, 3 October 2007
- ^ "Kosova Poverty Assessment ", World Banl, 3 October 2007
- ^ UNMIK. "Kosova in figures 2005" (PDF). Ministry of Public Services.
- ^ BBC News (23/12/05). "Muslims in Europe: Country guide".
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(help) - ^ BBC News (20/11/07). "churchesRegions and territories: Kosova".
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(help) - ^ Society for Threatened Peoples
- ^ International Crisis Group (31/01/01). "Religion in Kosova".
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2007 (U.S. Department of States) - Serbia (includes Kosova)
- ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2006 (U.S. Department of States) - Serbia and Montenegro (includes Kosova)
- ^ Albanian Population Growth
- ^ Kosova-Hotels, Prishtina - Kosova-Hotels, Prishtinë
Further reading
Malcolm, Noel (1999). Kosova: A Short History. Harper Perennial. ISBN 0060977752.
External links
- Wikimedia Atlas of Kosova
- United Nations Interim Administration in Kosova
- The Government of Kosova and Prime minister's office
- Assembly of Kosova
- President of Kosova
- Serbian Government for Kosova and Metohija
- "Kosova". The World Factbook (2024 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency.
- Visit Kosova - Tourism Website
- Template:Wikitravel