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#REDIRECT ] |
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{{redirect6|Republic of Kosovo|the state proclaimed in 1991|Republic of Kosova||Kosovo (disambiguation)}} |
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{{redirect5|Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija|the ] entity of the same name between 1946 and 1974|Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1946-1974)|an account of the period between 1990 and 1999|Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1990–1999)}} |
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{{Republic of Kosovo}} |
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{{History of Kosovo}} |
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The '''Republic of Kosovo''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Kosovës}}) is a ] in the ], in ] with the ] over the territory of ''']'''. |
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The Republic of Kosovo has '']'' control over most of Kosovo, excepting a few ]. ] does not recognise the secession of Kosovo and considers it a ]-governed entity within its ], the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and ] ({{lang-sr|Аутономна Покрајина Косово и Метохија, ''Autonomna Pokrajina Kosovo i Metohija''}}), according to the Constitution of ] (2006).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.venice.coe.int/site/dynamics/N_Opinion_ef.asp?L=E&OID=405 |title=Documents by Opinion and Study |publisher=Venice.coe.int |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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{{Redirect category shell| |
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The Republic of Kosovo is landlocked and bordered by ] to the south, ] to the west, the region of ] to the north and east, and ] to the Northwest. The largest city and the capital of Kosovo is ] (alternatively spelled Prishtina or Priština), while other cities include ] (Peć), ], ] (Đakovica) and ]. |
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{{R from merge}} |
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{{R from official name}} |
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{{R from long name}} |
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==History== |
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{{Main|History of Kosovo|20th century history of Kosovo}} |
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===Kosovo War and aftermath (1995-2007)=== |
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{{Main|Kosovo War}} |
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In 1995 the ] ended the ], drawing considerable international attention. However, despite the hopes of Kosovar Albanians, the situation in Kosovo remained largely unaddressed by the ], and by 1996 the ] (KLA), an ethnic ] guerilla group, had prevailed over the ] movement and had started offering armed resistance to ] and ] security forces, resulting in early stages of the ].<ref name="rogel"/><ref>Rama, Shinasi A. . ''The International Journal of Albanian Studies'', 1 (1998), pp. 15-19.</ref> By 1998, as the violence had worsened and displaced scores of Albanians, Western interest had increased. The Serbian authorities were compelled to sign a ] and partial retreat, monitored by ] observers according to an agreement negotiated by ]. However, the ceasefire did not hold and fighting resumed in December 1998. The ] in January 1999 in particular brought new international attention to the conflict.<ref name="rogel"/> Within weeks, a multilateral international conference was convened and by March had prepared a draft agreement known as the ], calling for restoration of Kosovo's autonomy and deployment of ] ]. The ] found the terms unacceptable and refused to sign the draft. |
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] between March 24 and June 10, 1999,<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.nato.int/kosovo/all-frce.htm|title=Operation Allied Force|publisher=]}}</ref> aimed to force Milošević to withdraw his forces from Kosovo, combined with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces resulted in a further massive displacement of population in Kosovo.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.unhcr.org/partners/PARTNERS/3bb051c54.pdf|title=NATO and Humanitarian Action in the Kosovo Crisis|author=Larry Minear, Ted van Baarda, Marc Sommers|year=2000|publisher=]|format=PDF}}</ref> |
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During the conflict, roughly a million ethnic Albanians fled or were forcefully driven from Kosovo. Altogether, more than 11,000 deaths have been reported to ] 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 Kosovo dead }}</ref> Some 3,000 people are still missing, of which 2,500 are Albanian, 400 Serbs and 100 ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/781310.stm |title=3,000 missing in Kosovo |author=KiM Info-Service |date= 2000-06-07}}</ref> Ultimately by June Milošević had agreed to a foreign military presence within Kosovo and withdrawal of his troops. |
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Since May 1999, the ] has prosecuted crimes committed during the Kosovo War. Nine Serbian and Yugoslavian commanders have been indicted so far for ] and violations of the ] in Kosovo in 1999: Yugoslavian President ], Serbian President ], Yugoslavian ] ], Yugoslavian Chief of the General Staff Gen. ], Serbian Interior Minister ], Gen. ], Gen. ''Vladimir Lazarević'', Deputy Interior Minister of Serbia ] and Chief of the Interior for Kosovo ]. Stojiljković killed himself while at large in 2002 and Milošević died in custody during the trial in 2006. No final judgement concerning the other defendants has been produced so far. The indictment against the nine has alleged that they directed, encouraged or supported a campaign of terror and violence directed at Kosovo Albanian civilians and aimed at the expulsion of a substantial portion of them from Kosovo. It has been alleged that about 800,000 Albanians were expelled as a result. In particular, in the last indictment as of June 2006, the accused were charged with murder of 919 identified Kosovo Albanian civilians aged from one to 93, both male and female.<ref>http://www.icty.org/x/cases/slobodan_milosevic/cis/en/cis_milosevic_slobodan.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.icty.org/x/cases/milutinovic/cis/en/cis_milutinovic_al_en.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.icty.org/x/cases/djordjevic/cis/en/cis_djordjevic_en.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.icty.org/x/cases/djordjevic/ind/en/dor-3rdai070119.pdf</ref> Six KLA commanders were indicted in two cases: ], ] and ],<ref>Another Albanian was indicted together with them, but the charges against him were promptly withdrawn after his arrest, as he turned out not to be the person referred to in the indictment.</ref> as well as ], ''Idriz Balaj'' and ''Lahi Brahimaj''. They were charged with crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war in Kosovo in 1998, consisting in persecutions, cruel treatment, torture, murders and rape of several dozens of the local Serbs, Albanians and other civilians perceived unloyal to the KLA. In particular, Limaj, Musliu and Bala were accused of murder of 22 identified detainees at or near the Llapushnik ]. In 2005 Limaj and Musliu were found not guilty on all charges, Bala was found guilty of persecutions, cruel treatment, murders and rape and sentenced to 13 years. The appeal chamber affirmed the judgements in 2007. In 2008 Ramush Haradinaj and Idriz Balaj were acquitted, whereas Lahi Brahimaj was found guilty of cruel treatment and torture and sentenced to six years. Notices of appeal are currently being considered.<ref>http://www.icty.org/x/cases/limaj/cis/en/cis_limaj_et_al.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.icty.org/x/cases/haradinaj/cis/en/cis_haradinaj_al_en.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/limaj/ind/en/lim-2ai040212e.htm |title=Second Amended Indictment - Limaj et al |publisher=Icty.org |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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===Declaration of independence (2008)=== |
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] |
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].]] |
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{{Main|2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|International recognition of Kosovo|2008 Post declaration of independence unrest in Kosovo}} |
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The republic proclaimed independence on 17 February 2008.<ref name="bbc_proclaim">"", ], 17 February 2008</ref> Over the following days, several ] (the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], the ],<ref>{{citenews|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/02/20/2003402059|title=Taiwan officially recognizes Kosovo|publisher=]|author=Hsu, Jenny W|date=2008-02-20|accessdate=2008-05-13}}</ref> ] and others) announced their recognition, despite protests by ] and others in the ].<ref name="bbc=recog1">"", BBC News Online, 18 February 2008</ref> Currently, {{Kosovorecognition||UN states}} recognise the independence of Kosovo and it has become a member country of the ] as the Republic of Kosovo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/np/ms/2009/062409.htm |title=Republic of Kosovo - IMF Staff Visit, Concluding Statement |publisher=Imf.org |date=2009-06-24 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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The UN Security Council remains divided on the question ({{As of|2008|7|4|lc=on}}). Of the five members with ], USA, UK, and France ] the declaration of independence, and the ] has expressed concern, while Russia considers it ]. {{As of|2008|10}}, no member-country of ], ] or ] has recognised Kosovo as independent. Kosovo has not made a formal application for ] membership yet in view of a possible veto from Russia and China. |
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The ] has no official position towards Kosovo's status, but has decided to deploy the ] to ensure a continuation of international civil presence in Kosovo. {{As of|2008|4}}, most of the member-countries of ], ], ] and ] have recognised Kosovo as independent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kosovothanksyou.com/stats.php |title=Recognition Information and Statistics - Who Recognized Kosova? The Kosovar people thank you - Who Recognized Kosovo and Who Recognizes Kosovo |publisher=Kosovothanksyou.com |date=2007-05-01 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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{{As of|2008|10|9}}, all of Kosovo's immediate neighbour states except ] have recognised the declaration of independence. ] and the ] announced their recognition of Kosovo on 9 October 2008.<ref>. Retrieved 10 October 2008.</ref> Albania, ], ] and ] have also recognised the independence of Kosovo.<ref>, accessed 12:41 19 March 2008.</ref> |
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The Serb minority of Kosovo, which largely opposes the declaration of independence, has formed the ] in response. The creation of the assembly was condemned by Kosovo's president Fatmir Sejdiu, while UNMIK has said the assembly is not a serious issue because it will not have an operative role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/06/30/feature-01 |title=Kosovo Serbs convene parliament; Pristina, international authorities object (SETimes.com) |publisher=SETimes.com |date=2008-06-30 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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On 8 October 2008, the UN agreed to ask the ] for a non-binding advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of Independence from Serbia, by a vote of 77-6-74 (77 in favour, 6 opposed and 74 abstentions).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28492&Cr=Kosovo&Cr1= |title=UN World Court to give opinion on legality of Kosovo’s independence |publisher=Un.org |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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==EULEX== |
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The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) is the largest civilian mission ever launched under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). The central aim is to assist and support the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area, specifically in the police, judiciary and customs areas. The mission is not in Kosovo to govern or rule. It is a technical mission which will monitor, mentor and advise whilst retaining a number of limited executive powers. EULEX works under the general framework of United Nations Security Resolution 1244 and has a unified ] to Brussels. It has around 3,000 staff, (1,900 international, 1,100 local) and a budget of 205 million Euros for the first 16 months. The head of the mission is ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu/?id=2 |title=What is EULEX - EULEX Kosovo |publisher=Eulex-kosovo.eu |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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Local politics in the Serb areas are dominated by the ]. The Serbian List is led by ], an engineer from Kosovska Mitrovica. |
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In February 2007 the Union of Serbian Districts and District Units of Kosovo and Metohija transformed into the Serbian Assembly of Kosovo and Metohija, presided by ], a hardline nationalist residing in the northern part of the divided city of Mitrovica.<ref>{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28603646.htm |title=Reuters AlertNet - Kosovo Serbs convene parliament, rejecting new state |publisher=Alertnet.org |date=2008-06-28 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> It has demanded unity of the Serb people in Kosovo, boycotted ], and announced massive protests in support of Serbia's sovereignty over Kosovo. On 18 February 2008, day after Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, the Assembly declared it "null and void". |
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==Constitutional status== |
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{{See|Constitution of Kosovo}} |
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The Republic of Kosovo is a ] ]. The ] is exercised by the ] led by the ]. Two or three of the ministers, depending on the size of the government, are required to be from the minorities. The ] is the head of state. The judiciary is independent. The ] is exercised by the single-chamber ] consisting of 120 members, 100 of them directly elected by the people for a four-year term and twenty seats reserved for representatives of the ] only. The assembly elects the president for five years and approves the government. |
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A new constitution for the Republic of Kosovo was approved by the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, coming to force on June 15, 2008.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref>; </ref> |
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Kosovo is under ''de facto'' governance of the Republic of Kosovo except for ], which remains under ''de facto'' governance of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo is governed by legislative, executive and judicial institutions that derive from, and are set-up in, accordance with the ]. In November 2001, the OSCE supervised the first elections for the Kosovo Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osce.org/kosovo/13208.html: |title=OSCE Mission in Kosovo - Elections |publisher=Osce.org |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> The last parliamentary and local elections were held in ]. ] has undergone a significant reconfiguration, and no longer possesses the capacity, having handed over its few responsibilities to ], to govern in any meaningful fashion. It will, its head claims, function as a facilitator of contact between Kosovo and those states or organisations which do not recognise it yet. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://bsanna-news.ukrinform.ua/newsitem.php?id=7069&lang=en |title=Bsanna News - Bsanna News |publisher=Bsanna-news.ukrinform.ua |date=2008-12-22 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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====Government and politics==== |
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{{Main|Politics of Kosovo}} |
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===Parties=== |
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The largest ] are the ] ] (LDK), which has its origins in the 1990s non-violent resistance movement to Miloševic's rule and was led by ] until his death in 2006,<ref name="ku">" ", European Forum, 18 March 2008</ref> and two parties having their roots in the ] (KLA): the ] ] (PDK) led by former KLA leader ] and the centre-right ] (AAK) led by former KLA commander ].<ref name="ku"/> Kosovo publisher ] in 2004 formed the centre-left ]. Kosovo Serbs formed the ] (SLKM) in 2004 and won several seats, but have boycotted Kosovo's institutions and never taken their seats in the Kosovo Assembly.<ref name="ku"/> In 2006 Swiss-Kosovar businessman ], reputed to be the richest living Albanian, founded the ] (AKR), which came third in the 2007 elections. |
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==Foreign relations== |
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{{Main|Foreign relations of Kosovo}} |
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Currently 17 countries maintain ]. As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}, {{Kosovorecognition}} countries recognise Kosovo as independent. ] is Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kosovo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8228 |title=Kosovo Foreign Ministry 'Soon' |publisher=BalkanInsight.com |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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====Military==== |
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{{Main|Military of Kosovo}} |
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A 2,500-strong Kosovo ] (KSF) is to be trained by NATO and will be operational toward the end of 2009. The KSF will replace the Kosovar Protection Service (KPS) which had been made up mainly of former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the separatist guerrillas who fought Serbia during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war.<ref>{{cite web|author=(AFP) – Jan 21, 2009 |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hFUhM_dkT5VtQbsmvcICbBGZDF9Q |title=AFP: New Kosovo security force angers Serbia |publisher=Google.com |date=2009-01-21 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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===Rule of law=== |
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Following the ], due to the many weapons in the hands of civilians, law enforcement inefficiencies, and widespread devastation, both ] and ] surged tremendously. The number of reported murders rose 80% from 136 in 2000 to 245 in 2001. The number of reported arsons rose 140% from 218 to 523 over the same period. UNMIK pointed out that the rise in reported incidents might simply correspond to an increased confidence in the police force (i.e., more reports) rather than more actual crime.<ref name="unmikstat"></ref> According to the ], by 2008, murder rates in Kosovo had dropped by 75% in five years<ref>Retrieved from http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/10585/</ref><ref>, ] report, March 2008. P. 39.</ref> |
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Although the number of noted serious crimes increased between 1999 and 2000, since then it has been "starting to resemble the same patterns of other European cities".<ref name="unmikstat"/><ref>, 17 January 2001</ref> According to ], the aftermath of the war resulted in an increase in the ] for sexual exploitation.<ref>, ].</ref><ref>, Amnesty International.</ref><ref>, ].</ref> According to the ] data, in 2000-2004, Kosovo was consistently ranked fourth or fifth among the countries of Southeastern Europe by number of ] victims, after Albania, ], ] and sometimes ].<ref name="iom.int">. Geneva:International Organization for Migration, 2005. P. 31, 247-295.</ref><ref>, ] report, March 2008. P. 79.</ref> |
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Residual landmines and other ] remain in Kosovo, although all roads and tracks have been cleared. Caution when travelling in remote areas is advisable. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://fco-stage.fco.gov.uk/content/en/travel-advice/europe/12793683/FCO_TRV_ca_kosovo |title=Kosovo travel advice |publisher=Fco-stage.fco.gov.uk |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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Kosovo is extremely vulnerable to ] and thus to ]. In 2000, international agencies estimated that Kosovo was supplying up to 40% of the heroin sold in Europe and North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/mar/13/balkans |title=Kosovo drug mafia supply heroin to Europe | World news |publisher=The Guardian |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> Due to the ] and the ] in 1998-1999 ethnic Albanian traffickers enjoyed a competitive advantage, which has been eroding as the region stabilises.<ref>, ] report, March 2008. P. 14.</ref> However, according to a 2008 report by the ], overall, ethnic Albanians, not only from Kosovo, supply 10 to 20% of the heroin in ], and the traffic has been declining.<ref>, ] report, March 2008. P. 14, 74.</ref> |
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According to the ] data, in 2000-2004, Kosovo was consistently ranked fourth or fifth among the countries of Southeastern Europe by number of human trafficking victims, after Albania, ], ] and sometimes ].<ref name="iom.int"/> |
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==Geography== |
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{{Main|Geography of Kosovo}} |
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The climate is ], with warm summers and cold and snowy winters. Most of Kosovo's terrain in mountainous, the highest peak is ] ({{convert|2656|m|ft|0|abbr=on|disp=/}}). There are two main plain regions, the ] basin is located in the western part of the Kosovo, and the ] occupies the eastern part. The main rivers of the region are the ], running towards the ], with the ] among its ]), the ], the ] in the ] area, and ] in the north. The biggest lakes are ], ], ] and ]. |
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39.1% of Kosovo is ], about 52% is classified as agricultural land, 31% of which is covered by pastures and 69% is arable.<ref>. The Regional Environmental Centre for ], Prishtina, July 2000.</ref> ], Kosovo belongs to the Illyrian province of the ] within the ]. According to the ] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the ], the territory of Kosovo belongs to the ecoregion of ].Currently, the 39,000 ha Šar Mountains National Park, established in 1986 in the ] along the border with the Republic of Macedonia, is the only ] in Kosovo, although the ] in the ] along the border with Montenegro has been proposed as another one.<ref name="biodiv">. Final Report submitted to the ], ARD-BIOFOR IQC Consortium, May 2003.</ref> |
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The largest cities are ], the capital, with an estimated 500,000 inhabitants.<ref>http://www.osce.org/documents/mik/2008/04/1199_en.pdf</ref> The old city of ] is towards the south west, with a population of 110,000. ] in the west has 70,000 inhabitants with ] in the north at around 70,000. |
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==Economy== |
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{{Main|Economy of Kosovo}} |
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] in Pristina.]] |
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] |
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Kosovo is classified a ] by US intelligence, with a per capita income estimated at ]2,100 (2008).<ref name="cia.gov">{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref> Kosovo had the largest exporting company (Trepca) in the Federal Republic of ]<ref>{{cite web|author=Crisis Group |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1585&l=1 |title=International Crisis Group - Trepca: Making Sense of the La |publisher=Crisisgroup.org |date=1999-11-26 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> Yet Kosovo was the poorest province of Yugoslavia and received substantial development subsidies from all Yugoslav republics.<ref>Christian Science Monitor 1982-01-15, "Why Turbulent Kosovo has Marble Sidewalks but Troubled Industries"</ref> Additionally, over the course of the 1990s a blend of poor economic policies, ], poor external commerce and ] severely damaged the economy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/KOSOVOEXTN/0,,menuPK:297775~pagePK:141159~piPK:141110~theSitePK:297770,00.html |title=World Bank Mission in Kosovo |author=The World Bank |date=2006/2007}}</ref> |
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After a jump in 2000 and 2001, growth in ] (GDP) was negative in 2002 and 2003 and was expected to be around 3 percent in 2004-2005, with domestic sources of growth unable to compensate for the declining ]. ] is low, while the budget posted a deficit for the first time in 2004. Kosovo has high external deficits. In 2004, the deficit of the balance of ] 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 ] 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 ] remains weak and the ] supply remains unreliable, acting as a key constraint. Unemployment remains pervasive, at around 40-50% of the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eciks.org/english/lajme.php?action=total_news&main_id=386 |title=May finds Kosovo with 50% unemployed |author=eciks |date= 2006-05-04 |accessdate= 2009-07-24}}</ref> |
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UNMIK introduced an ] regime and customs administration on September 3, 1999 when it set customs border controls in Kosovo. All goods imported in Kosovo face a flat 10% ] fee.<ref name="BuyUSA">{{cite web |url=http://www.buyusa.gov/kosovo/en/doingbusinessinkosovo.html |title=Doing Business in Kosovo |author=U.S. Commercial Service |accessdate=2009-07-24}}</ref> These taxes are collected from all Tax Collection Points installed at the borders of Kosovo, including those between Kosovo and Serbia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seerecon.org/kosovo/documents/wb_econ_report/wb-kosovo-econreport-2-2.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080226204543/http://www.seerecon.org/kosovo/documents/wb_econ_report/wb-kosovo-econreport-2-2.pdf |archivedate=2008-02-26 |format=PDF |title=External Trade and Customs |author=Economic Reconstruction and Development in South East Europe}}</ref> UNMIK and Kosovo institutions have signed ] Agreements with ],<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, Kosovo sign Interim Free Trade Agreement |author=B92 |authorlink=B92 |date= 2006-10-02 |publisher=mrt.com |accessdate=2009-07-24}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euinkosovo.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 Kosovo|date=17/02/06|publisher=UNMIK}}</ref> ] and ].<ref name="BuyUSA"/> |
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The ] is the official currency of Kosovo and is used by UNMIK and the government bodies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euinkosovo.org/uk/invest/invest.php |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080214232830/http://www.euinkosovo.org/uk/invest/invest.php |archivedate=2008-02-14 |title=Invest in Kosovo |author=EU in Kosovo}}</ref> Initially, Kosovo adopted the ] in 1999 to replace the ],<ref></ref> and consequently switched to the Euro when the German mark was replaced by it. However, the ] is still used in Serbian-populated areas.<ref name="cia.gov"/> |
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The chief means of entry, apart form the main highway leading to the south to ], ], is ]. |
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===Trade and investment=== |
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The economy is hindered by Kosovo'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 Kosovo loan |author=BBC News |date= 2005-05-03}}</ref> |
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The province's economic weakness has produced a thriving ] in which smuggled petrol, cigarettes and cement are major commodities. The prevalence of ] 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kosovo.undp.org/?cid=2,1,54 |title=United Nations Development Programme |publisher=Kosovo.undp.org |date=2004-08-31 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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Kosovo has a reported ] of 1,264 billion USD that is currently serviced by Serbia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2637230220080226 |title=Serbia should stop servicing Kosovo debt: EconMin | International |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-02-26 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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According to ]<ref></ref> from 2001 to 2004 Kosovo received $3,2 billion of foreign aid. International donor 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 Kosovo. |
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Kosovo joined the ] and the ] on 26 June 2009 as the 186th country to join the two institutions. 95% of Kosovars had previously voted in favour of the move. |
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The accession follows a 50% tax reduction implemented in 2008 which has helped double investment in the country, setting the economy for an expected growth of "around 4.0 percent to 5.0 percent" in 2010, according to IMF projections.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Veronica |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iwijpFreGbpOGE8KHVX9mMXi-iqA |title=AFP: Kosovo joins IMF, World Bank amid independence row |publisher=Google.com |date=2009-06-29 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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==Administrative regions== |
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Kosovo, for administrative reasons, is considered as consisting of seven districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/bd/bdy/bdy_kos |title=Kosovo: Delimiting Electoral Districts for a Proportional Representation System — ACE Electoral Knowledge Network |publisher=Aceproject.org |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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] maintains its own government, infrastructure and institutions by its dominant ethnic ] population in the ], viz. in the ], ] and ] municipalities and the northern part of ]. |
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===Districts=== |
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{{Main|Subdivisions of Kosovo|Districts of Kosovo and Metohija}} |
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===Municipalities and cities=== |
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{{Main|Municipalities of Kosovo}} |
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Kosovo is subdivided into 30 municipalities: |
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{{Municipalities of Kosovo}} |
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==Demographics== |
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{{Main|Demographics of Kosovo}} |
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] |
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] |
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According to the Kosovo in Figures 2005 Survey of the Statistical Office of Kosovo,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ks-gov.net/esk/esk/pdf/english/general/kosovo_figures_05.pdf |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080309073836/http://www.ks-gov.net/esk/esk/pdf/english/general/kosovo_figures_05.pdf |archivedate=2008-03-09 |format=PDF |title=Kosovo 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=2005-12-23 |accessdate=2009-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/3524092.stm |title=churchesRegions and territories: Kosovo |author=BBC News |date=2007-11-20 |accessdate=2009-07-24}}</ref> Kosovo's total population is estimated between 1.9 and 2.2 million with the following ethnic composition: ] 92%, ] 4%, ] and ] 2%, ] 1%, ] 1%. ] estimates the following ratio: 88% ], 8% ] and 4% other ethnic groups.<ref>{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref> |
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According to latest CIA The World Factbook estimated data, as of July 2009, Kosovo's population stands at '''1,804,838''' persons.It stated that ethnic composition is "Albanians 88%, Serbs 7%, other 5% (Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turk, Ashkali, Egyptian)" <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html#People |title=World Factbook |author=CIA |publisher=CIA |accessdate=2009-07-24}}</ref> |
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Albanians, steadily increasing in number, have constituted a majority in Kosovo since the 19th century, the earlier ethnic composition being disputed. Kosovo's political boundaries do not coincide with ethnic boundaries; Serbs form a local majority in ] and ], while there are large areas with Albanian majority outside Kosovo in the neighbouring regions of former Yugoslavia, namely in the Northwest of the ] and in ] of ]. |
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At 1.3% per year, ethnic Albanians in Kosovo have the fastest rate of growth in population in Europe.<ref></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></ref> However, this is unlikely to happen; until about 1990, Kosovo Albanians had very high birth rates of about 4 children per woman, similar to many poor developing countries (such as ] or ]), but this has fallen down to about two since then and will likely sink below replacement eventually, as it has in ] itself. In addition, Kosovo has a high emigration rate now which it did not have before 1990. |
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By contrast, from ] to ], the Serb population of Kosovo increased by but twelve percent (one third the growth of the population in Central Serbia). The population of Albanians in Kosovo increased by three hundred percent in the same period{{ndash}} a rate of growth twenty-five times that of the Serbs in Kosovo. Serbs, similar to most other ]an Christian ethnic groups, since about 1990 have had very low birth rates (about 1.5 children per woman) and more deaths than births. This ensures a continued dwindling of the Serb minority as a percentage of the population, even with the dropping births among the Albanians. |
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Since Kosovo's declaration of independence, Serbs have increasingly fled the region, causing anxiety for Kosovan leaders and encouraging the claims of Serbian politicians.<ref></ref> |
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===Languages=== |
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The native dialect of the Kosovar Albanian population is ], although Standard ] is now widely used as an official language.<ref>. Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. '']'', Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: ]. Online version.</ref><ref>Sylvia Moosmüller & Theodor Granser. . ''Language Variation and Change'' (2006), 18: 121-140.</ref> According to the draft ], ] is another official language.<ref></ref> |
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===Religion=== |
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] (mostly ], with a ] minority<ref name="babuna"/>) is the predominant ] in Kosovo, brought into the region with the ] in the 15th century and now nominally professed by most of the ethnic Albanians, by the Bosniak, Gorani, and Turkish communities, and by some of the ]/]-"]" community. Islam, however, hasn't saturated the Kosovar society, which remains largely secular.<ref>. The ], February 21, 2008.</ref> About three percent of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo remain ] despite centuries of the Ottoman rule. The Serb population, estimated at 100,000 to 120,000 persons, is largely ]. Kosovo is densely covered by numerous ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1591&l=1 |title=Religion in Kosovo |author=International Crisis Group |date=2001-01-31 |accessdate=2009-07-24}}</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> Many of these are well documented as having been destroyed, by criminals unknown.<ref>{{cite web|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,FORUM18,,SRB,,468918a14,0.html |title=Refworld | Kosovo: Nobody charged for destruction of Orthodox churches and monasteries |publisher=UNHCR |date=2004-05-06 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> |
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==Society== |
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].]] |
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===Relations between Albanian and Serb communities=== |
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] poster - “Kossovo Day” from 1916 inviting Allied solidarity with Serbia.]] |
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The relations between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian and Serb populations have been hostile since the rise of nationalistm in the Balkans during the 19th century, rivalry which became strong after Serbia gained Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire in 1913 and after Albania became independent in the same year.<ref>Schabnel, Albrecht; Thakur (ed), Ramesh (ed). Kosovo and the Challenge of Humanitarian Intervention: Selective Indignation, Collective Action, and International Citizenship. New York: The United Nations University, 2001. Pp. 20.</ref> During the ] period however, Serbs and Albanians within Kosovo enjoyed good-neighborly relations, working together to appose foreign meddling in the territory on many occasions<ref>See: Isa Blumi, Rethinking the Late Ottoman Empire: A Comparative Social and ] of Albania and Yemen, 1878-1918 (Istanbul: The Isis Press, 2003)</ref> During the Tito-era of communist rule in Yugoslavia, the ethnic Albanian and Serb populations of Kosovo were strongly irreconcilable with sociological studies during the Tito-era indicating that ethnic Albanian and Serb peoples in Kosovo rarely accepted each other as neighbours or friends and few held interethnic marriages.<ref name="Schabnel, Albrecht 2001. Pp. 24">Schabnel, Albrecht; Thakur (ed), Ramesh (ed), 2001. Pp. 24.</ref> Ethnic prejudices, stereotypes and mutual distrust between ethnic Albanians and Serbs have remained common for decades.<ref name="Schabnel, Albrecht 2001. Pp. 24"/> The level of intolerance and separation between the ethnic Albanian and Serb communities during the Tito-period was reported by sociologists to be worse than that of Croat and Serb communities in Yugoslavia which also had tensions but held some closer relations between each other.<ref name="Schabnel, Albrecht 2001. Pp. 24"/> |
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===Cinema and media=== |
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{{Main|Music of Kosovo}} |
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Although in Kosovo the music is diverse, authentic ] (see '']'') and ] do still exist. Albanian music is characterised by the use of the '']'' (an authentic Albanian instrument), ''mandolin'', ''mandola'' and ''percussion''. ] is also well-known in Kosovo and has been taught at several ] and ] (at the ] in ] and the ] at ]). |
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===Sports=== |
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{{Main|Sport in Kosovo}} |
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Several sports federations have been formed in Kosovo within the framework of Law No. 2003/24 "Law on Sport" passed by the Assembly of Kosovo in 2003. The law formally established a national ], regulated the establishment of sports federations and established guidelines for ]s. At present only some of the sports federations established have gained international recognition. |
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==See also== |
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{{portal|Kosovo|Kosovo blue map.png}} |
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{{Main|Outline of Kosovo}} |
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<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;"> |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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</div> |
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==References and notes == |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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===Further reading=== |
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* {{cite book |last=Malcolm |first=Noel |authorlink=Noel Malcolm |title=Kosovo: A Short History |publisher=] |year=1998 |isbn=0333666127}} |
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* {{cite book |last=Elsie |first=Robert |authorlink=Robert Elsie |title=Historical Dictionary of Kosova |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2004 |isbn=0810853094}} |
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==External links== |
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{{sisterlinks}} |
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* {{wikiatlas|Kosovo}} |
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* {{CIA World Factbook link|kv|Kosovo}} |
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* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Serbia/Kosovo}} |
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* {{wikitravel}} |
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{{Kosovo topics}} |
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{{Template group |
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|title = <!-- ] --> Geographic national |
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