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{{About|the independent republic declared in 2008|the state proclaimed in 1991|Republic of Kosova|the Kosovo region|Kosovo (region)|other uses|Kosovo (disambiguation)}}


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{{Republic of Kosovo}}
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'''Kosovo''' ({{lang-sq|Kosovë, Kosova}}; {{lang-sr|Косово, ''Kosovo''}}), officially the '''Republic of Kosovo''' (Albanian: ''Republika e Kosovës''; Serbian: Република Косово, ''Republika Kosovo'') is a ] independent state. It is self-declared and has '']'' control over most of the territory of ], with ] being the largest ] enclave.<ref>UNSC 6264th meeting, , 22.01.10</ref> ] does not recognise the unilateral secession of Kosovo<ref>Staff (23 July 2010) ''BBC News''</ref> and considers it a ]-] ] within its ].<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>
<!-- Note: Below, the exact sentence with alternative city names was first discussed on the talk page, proposed, then inserted here as consensus. Please do not alter it without discussing it first on the talk page. Thank you. -->

Kosovo is landlocked and borders ] north and eastward, the ] to the south, ] to the west and ] to the northwest (the latter three recognise it as independent). The largest city and the capital of Kosovo is ] (alternatively spelled ''Prishtina'' or ''Priština''), while other cities include ] (Albanian: ''Peja''), ], ] (''Gjakova''), and ] (''Mitrovica'').

During ], the territory roughly corresponding to present-day Kosovo was part of several tribal alliances, including that formed by the ].<ref>Pannonia and Upper Moesia. A History of the Middle Danube Provinces of the Roman Empire. A Mocsy. Pages, 9, 26, 65</ref> Upon conquest, the Romans dissolved existing tribal alliances and re-integrated communities centred on Roman civitates, part of the Roman province of Moesia Superior. Subdivisions in Late Roman times created the region of "Dardania". After the collapse of Roman control, the region was contested between Avars, Sklavenes and Byzantines, and later beween the Byzantines, Bulgarians and Serbs.

The name and the region ''Kosovo'' first appears as part of a newly created region within an expanded ], and soon became the its ecclesiastical and secular centre; the region was subsequently enshrined by Serbs as the cradle of their national identity.<ref>Sima Sirkovic. ''The Serbs''. Page 50 ''The shift was more apparent to the south, at first, symbolized by the transfer of the Serbian archbishops from Zica to Pec....The rulers attached themselves to a complex of castles ..around a lake in Kosovo, Prizren, and Skopje.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Latawski, Smith|first=Paul Chester, Martin A. |title=The Kosovo crisis and the evolution of post-Cold War European security|year=2003|publisher=Manchester University Press|isbn=9780719059810|page=4|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=mHB7DKYDBKUC&pg=PA4&dq=kosovo+cradle&hl=en&ei=LJ7CTPfvLc2fOq2-7OEL&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=kosovo%20cradle&f=false}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title= The road to war in Serbia: trauma and catharsis |author= Nebojša Popov, Drinka Gojković |publisher= ] |year= 2000 |page= 32 |isbn=9639116564, 9789639116566 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=GkBmdCwHuDsC }}</ref><ref>{{citation |title= The Kosovo crisis and the evolution of post-Cold War European security |author= Paul Chester Latawski, Martin A. Smith |publisher= ] |year= 2003 |page= 4 |isbn= 0719059801, 9780719059803 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=mHB7DKYDBKUC }}</ref><ref name="MooreD.)2001">{{cite book|last=Moore|first=Margaret|title=The ethics of nationalism|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=A5gzhXQ-IJwC&pg=PA195|accessdate=19 October 2010|year=2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780198297468|page=195}}</ref>.<ref>{{citation |title= The new European diasporas: national minorities and conflict in Eastern Europe |author= ] |editor= illustrated |publisher= ] |page= 220 |year= 2000 |isbn= 0876092571, 9780876092576 |url= http://books.google.es/books?id=qoHQ3OgU8bMC }} citing {{citation |journal= National interest |title= Kosovo: Only Independence Will Work |author= ] |issue= 54 |date= Winter 1998-99 |page= 25}} and also {{citation |title= Kosovo: a short history |author= Noel Malcolm |publisher= ] |year= 1998 |pages= 58–80 }}</ref> Following the ] in 1389, it became part of the ], while some parts of it remained in the Albanian ], until the middle 15th century.<ref name="Sellers2010"/> During the Ottoman the region came into close contact with the Ottoman culture ] was introduced to the population. During the late 19th century, Kosovo was the centre of the Albanian national ] and the battlefield of the Albanian revolts of ], ] and ]. In 1912, the Ottoman ] was divided between ] and ], both of which became part of ] in 1918. During ], the majority of Kosovo was part of ], followed by a ] before becoming an ] of the ] under the ].

After the ] and the 1999 ], the territory came under the interim administration of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (]), most of whose roles were assumed by the European Union ] Mission in Kosovo (]) in December 2008.<ref>"", BBC, 9 December 2008.&nbsp;– Retrieved on 19 May 2009.</ref> In February 2008 individual members of the ] (acting ]) declared Kosovo's independence as the ''Republic of Kosovo''. Its independence is ] by {{Kosovorecognition||UN member states}} and the ] (Taiwan). On 8 October 2008, upon request of Serbia, the ] adopted a resolution asking the ] for an ] on the issue of Kosovo's ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE49780C20081008 |title=U.N. backs Serbia in judicial move on Kosovo &#124; International |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-10-08 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> On 22 July 2010, the ICJ ruled that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not violate international law, which its president said contains no "prohibitions on declarations of independence".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100722/eu-world-court-kosovo/ |title=World court: Kosovo's independence was legal |agency=Associated Press |date=2010-07-22 |accessdate=2010-07-22}}</ref>

==Name==

{{Main|Names of Kosovo}}

''Kosovo'' ({{lang-sr|Косово}}, {{IPA-sr|ˈkɔsɔvɔ|pron}}<!--PLEASE VERIFY VOWELS-->) is the Serbian neuter ] of ''kos'' (кос) "]",<ref>. Dr John-Peter Maher, ] of Linguistics, ]</ref> an ] for ''Kosovo Polje'' "field of the blackbirds", the ] of the 1389 ]. The name of the field was applied to ] created in 1864.

The region currently known as "Kosovo" became an ] in 1946, as the ]. In 1974, the compositional "Kosovo and ]" was reduced to simple "Kosovo" in the name of the ], but in 1990 was renamed back to ].{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

The entire region is commonly referred to in ] simply as ''Kosovo'' and in ] as ''{{lang|sq|Kosova}}'' (], {{IPA-sq|kɔˈsɔ:va|}}) or ''{{lang|sq|Kosovë}}'' (], {{IPA-sq|kɔˈsɔːv|}}). In ], a distinction is made between the eastern and western areas; the term ''{{lang|sr-Latn|Kosovo}}'' ({{lang|sr|Косово}}) is used for the eastern part, while the western part is called '']'' ({{lang|sr|Метохија}}).<ref name="constitution-serbia">{{cite web|url=http://www.parlament.gov.rs/content/eng/akta/ustav/ustav_ceo.asp |title=Constitution of the Republic of Serbia |publisher=Parlament.gov.rs |date= |accessdate=2011-01-02}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Kosovo|20th century history of Kosovo}}
Kosovo's current status is the result of the turmoil of the ], particularly the ] of 1998 to 1999, but it is suffused with issues dating back to the ] during the last part of ] in the 19th century, ] nationalism (centred around the claim that Kosovo was historically theirs due to ] with the ]) vs. ] (notably surrounding the ] eponymous with the Kosovo region) in particular.

===Early history===
{{Main|Dardani|Illyrians|Battle of Kosovo|History of Medieval Serbia}}
<!-- image removed under ]: ] -->
Kosovo was part of the region of the ''Dardani'' ({{lang-la|Dardani}}; {{lang-grc|Δαρδάνιοι}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=dardani&ending= |title=Latin Dictionary |publisher=Archives.nd.edu |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0073%3Aentry%3D%232163 |title=Dardanioi, Georg Autenrieth, "A Homeric Dictionary", at Perseus |publisher=Perseus.tufts.edu |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref>
Located at the ] contact zone, their identification as either ] or ] tribe is uncertain.<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5, Page 85, "... Whether the Dardanians were an Illyrian or a Thracian people has been much debated and one view suggests that the area was originally populated with Thracians who where then exposed to direct contact with illyrians over a long period..."</ref><ref>"the Dardanians living in the frontiers of the Illyrian and the ] worlds retained their individuality and, alone among the peoples of that region succeeded in maintaining themselves as an ethnic unity even when they were militarily and politically subjected by the Roman arms and when at the end of the ancient world, the Balkans were involved in far-reaching ethnic perturbations, the Dardanians, of all the Central Balkan tribes, played the greatest part in the genesis of the new peoples who took the place of the old" The central Balkan tribes in pre-Roman times: Triballi, Autariatae, Dardanians, Scordisci and Moesians, Amsterdam 1978, by Fanula Papazoglu, ISBN 90-256-0793-4, page 131.</ref>

The area was then conquered by Rome in the ], and incorporated into the ] of ] in 59 BC. Subsequently, it became part of ] in AD 87. The ] reached the Balkans in the 6th to 7th century, whereby autochthonous peoples merged with the northern newcomers.<ref>The Illyrians. A Stipcevic. Noyes Press. Pg 76 ''the Slavs merged with these people (the Illyrians), thus preserving in their own identity remains of ancient Illyrians''</ref>

Kosovo was absorbed into the ] in the 850s, where Christianity and a Byzantine-Slavic culture was cemented in the region. It was re-taken by the Byzantines after 1018, and became part of the newly established Theme of Bulgaria. As the centre of Slavic resistance to Constantinople in the region, the region often switched between Serbian and Bulgarian rule on one hand and Byzantine on the other until the Serb principality of ] conquered it definitively by the end of the 12th century.<ref>John Fine. ''The Early Medieval Balkans. A Critical Survey from the late 12th Century to the Ottoman Conquest. Page 7.''the Hungarian attack launched in 1183 with which Nemanja was allied...was able to conquer Kosovo and Metohija, including Prizren ''</ref>

Such takeovers had little impact on the local populace, since it merely represented a changing of one Balkan Christian dynasty by another.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} The zenith of Serbian power was reached in 1346, with the formation of the ]. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Kosovo became a political and spiritual centre of the Serbian Kingdom. In the late 13th century, the seat of the Serbian Archbishopric was moved to Pec, and rulers centred themselves between Prizren and Skopje.<ref>Denis P Hupchik. The Balkans. From Constantinople to Commnism. Page 93 "Dusan.. established his new state primate's seat at Pec (Ipek), in Kosovo"</ref> When the Serbian Empire fragmented into a conglomeration of principalities in 1371, Kosovo became the hereditary land of the ]. In the late 14th and the 15th century parts of Kosovo, the easternmost area of which was located near Pristina, were part of the ], which was later incorporated an anti-Ottoman federation of all Albanian principalities, the ].<ref name="Sellers2010">{{cite book|last=Sellers|first=Mortimer|title=The Rule of Law in Comparative Perspective|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9Rx7_KyUp7cC&pg=PA207|accessdate=2 February 2011|date=2010-04-15|publisher=Springer|isbn=9789048137480|page=207}}</ref>

In the 1389 ], Ottoman forces defeated a coalition of Serbs, Albanians, and Bosnians led by the Tsar ].<ref>History of the Balkans: Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by Barbara Jelavich, Cambridge paperback library Edition illustrated, reprint Publisher Cambridge University Press, 1983 ISBN 0-521-27458-3, 9780521274586 Length 407 pages page 31 link </ref><ref name="prospect-magazine.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=4173 |title=Essays: 'The battle of Kosovo' by Noel Malcolm &#124; Prospect Magazine May 1998 issue 30 |publisher=Prospect-magazine.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> Soon after, parts of Serbia accepted Turkish vassalage and Lazar's daughter was married to the Sultan to seal the peace.
By 1455, it was finally and fully conquered by the Ottoman Empire.<ref></ref>

===Ottoman Kosovo (1455–1912)===
{{Main|History of Ottoman Kosovo}}
{{See|Vilayet of Kosovo|History of Ottoman Serbia}}

Kosovo was part of the ] from 1455 to 1912, at first as part of the '']'' of ], and from 1864 as a separate ] ('']''). During this time, ] was introduced to the population. The ] was an area much larger than today's Kosovo; it included all today's Kosovo territory, sections of the ] region cutting into present-day ] and ] along with the ] municipality, the surrounding region in present-day northern ] and also parts of north-western ] with the city of ] (then Üsküp), as its capital. Between 1881 and 1912 (its final phase), it was internally expanded to include other regions of present-day ], including larger urban settlements such as ] (''İştip''), ] (''Kumanova'') and ] (''Kratova'').]

There are different records casting light on Ottoman rule over Kosovo. Records mainly come from Habsburg, Venetian and Ottoman archives. This period of Kosovo's history has shown to be very important to modern Serbia’s national identity. Though the main claims made by Serbian nationalist awakening movement and backed by most Serbian scholars today seem to have little ground to be backed by reliable evidence.<ref name="Anscombe">Anscombe, Frederick F. (2006). . ''The International History Review'' 28 (4) 758-793.</ref>

Serbian authors such as Sima Cirkovic back the idea that Ottoman occupation left a lasting demographic effect on Kosovo&nbsp;— with full-scale dislocation of Christian groups (especially Serbs and Orthodox ]). Most Serbian authors do not mention Albanians as being part of the exodus, though historians like Malcolm and Anscombe clearly show the opposite. Banac, focused on the difference between Bosniacs and Serbians under Ottoman Empire, shows the atmosphere of non-conforming groups, "Ottoman raids, plunder, slaving forays, as well as the general devastation caused by constant wars uprooted large numbers of Serbs even before the 'Great Serb Migration'".<ref name="harvtxt|Banac|p=42">{{harvtxt|Banac|p=42}}</ref>

Kosovo, like Serbia, was occupied by Austrian forces during the Great War of 1683–1699,{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/17cen/habsbott16831699.html |title=WHKMLA: Habsburg-Ottoman War, 1683–1699 |publisher=Zum.de |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> but the Ottomans re-established their rule of the region. Such acts of assistance by the Austrian Empire (then arch-rivals of the Ottoman Empire), or Russia, were always abortive or temporary at best.<ref name="harvtxt|Banac|p=42"/><ref>Cirkovic. Pg 115 '' Prior to the final conquest, the Turks often took inhabitants as slaves, frequently to Asia Minor</ref> In 1690, the ] ] apparently led a group of around 30,000 to 40,000 people out of Kosovo and Montenegro and other areas into ].<ref>The Serbs. Sima Cirkovic. ]. Pg 144 ''Patriarch Arsenije III claimed that 30,000 people followed him (on another occasion the figure was 40, 000)''</ref>

According to Serb historians more migrations of ] from the Kosovo area preceded and followed throughout the 18th century during the ].<ref>Cirkovic. Pg 115 ''The great migrations that had begun earlier continued after the establishment of Ottoman rule in territories that had formerly been part of the Serbian state''</ref> But, the claims that the exodus was exclusively made of Serbs and that the territory was mainly populated by Serb ethnicity seems to be in contradiction with Ottoman records.<ref name="Anscombe"/> Records show that the demography of Kosovo was very much mixed and that both Serbian and Albanian ethnic groups dominated. Moreover, they seem to indicate more cases of Albanians rebelling than any other ethnicity in the region.<ref name="Anscombe"/>

In 1766, the Ottomans abolished the ] and the position of Christians in Kosovo further deteriorated{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}, including full imposition of ] (taxation of non-Muslims).

Although initially stout opponents of the advancing Turks, Albanian chiefs ultimately came to accept the Ottomans as sovereigns. The resulting alliance facilitated the mass conversion of Albanians to Islam. Given that the Ottoman Empire's subjects were divided along religious (rather than ethnic) lines, Islamicisation greatly elevated the status of Albanian chiefs. Prior to this, they were organised along simple tribal lines, living in the mountainous areas of modern Albania (from Kruje to the Sar range). Soon, they expanded into a depopulated Kosovo, as well as northwestern Macedonia, although some might have been autochthonous to the region.<ref>{{harvtxt|Banac|p=46}}</ref><ref>Cirkovic. Pg 244 ''In Kosovo there were visible signs of ethnic change which had accumulated since ] with the immigration of Albanian cattle farmers. In addition to the continual flow of settlers and the Islamisation of urban centres, changes in the population were also caused by political events ... Serbs left territories still under the Sultan's control.</ref><ref>John Fine. ''The Early Medieval Balkans. A Critial Survey from the late 12th Century to the Ottoman Conquest. Page 51. ''The Albanians were not to create any structure resembling a state until the fifteenth century. However, organised in tribes under their own chieftains, the Albanians dominated the mountains of most of what we today think of as Albania''</ref> However, Banac favors the idea that the main settlers of the time were Vlachs.<ref>{{harvtxt|Banac|p=42}}</ref>

Many Albanians gained prominent positions in the Ottoman government, no fewer than 42 ]s of the Empire were Albanian in origin, including ] (1873–1936) an Albanian from ] who composed the ] in 1921, "İstiklâl Marşı" (The Independence March).<ref>Kosovo (Bradt ]), by Gail Warrander (Author), Verena Knaus (Author), ISBN 1-84162-199-4; ISBN 978-1-84162-199-9, Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides; 1st edition (January 1, 2008)</ref> As Hupchik states, "Albanians had little cause of unrest" and "if anything, grew important in Ottoman internal affairs",<ref name="hupchik">The Balkans. From Constantinople to Communism. Dennis Hupchik</ref> and sometimes persecuted Christians harshly on behalf of their Turkish masters.<ref name="prospect-magazine.co.uk"/>

In the 19th century, there was an ] of ] throughout the Balkans. This systematised the underlying ethnic tensions into a broader struggle of Christian Serbs against Muslim Albanians.<ref name="prospect-magazine.co.uk"/> The ethnic ] movement was centred in Kosovo. In 1878 the ] ({{lang-sq|Lidhja e Prizrenit}}) was formed. This was a ] which aimed to unify all the ] of the Ottoman Empire in a common struggle for autonomy and greater ],<ref>Kosovo What Everyone Needs to Know by Tim Judah Publisher ] US, 2008 ISBN 0-19-537673-0, 9780195376739 page 36</ref> although they generally desired the continuation of the Ottoman Empire.<ref>Cirkovic. Pg 244 ''since Islamicised Albanians represented a significant portion of the Ottoman armed forces and administration, they did not give up the Empire easily''</ref> The League was dis-established in 1881 but nevertheless enabled the awakening of a ] amongst Albanians.<ref>George Gawlrych, The Crescent and the Eagle, (Palgrave/Macmilan, London, 2006), ISBN 1-84511-287-3</ref> It would be clear that Albanian ambitions were at odds with Serbian aims. The Kingdom of Serbia wished to incorporate this land formerly within its empire.

===20th century===
{{Main|20th century history of Kosovo}}
{{Very long|date=July 2009}}

====Balkan Wars====
{{Main|Balkan Wars|Occupation of Albania (1912-1913)}}
The ] movement took control of the Ottoman Empire after a coup in 1912 which disposed of Sultan ]. The movement supported a centralised form of government and opposed any sort of autonomy desired by the various nationalities of the Ottoman Empire. An allegiance to '''Ottomanism''' was promoted instead.<ref>Erik Zurcher, Ottoman sources of Kemalist thought, (New York, Routledge, 2004), Page. 19.</ref> An Albanian uprising in 1912 exposed the Empires Northern territories in Kosovo and ] which led to an invasion by the ]. ] suffered a serious defeat at the hands of Albanians in 1912, culminating in the Ottoman loss of most of its Albanian inhabited lands. The Albanians threatened to march all the way to ] and reimpose ].<ref>Noel Malcolm, A short history of Kosovo, (London, 1998), Page. 248.</ref>

A wave of Albanians in the ] ranks also deserted during this period, refusing to fight their own kin. Two months later in September of the same year, a joint Balkan force made up of Serbian, Montenegrin, Bulgarian and Greek forces drove the Ottomans out of most of their European possessions. The ] Audrey Hebert sums up the impact of the Albanian revolt in bringing an end to Ottoman rule in Europe; ‘In the end, like Samson in the Temple of Gaza, they pulled down the columns of the Ottoman Empire upon their own head. It was the Albanians and not the Serbs or Bulgarians or Greeks who defeated the Turks’.<ref>Malcolm, 1998, p. 249.</ref>

The rise of Nationalism unfortunately hampered relations between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo, due to influence from ], ] and ].<ref>See: Isa Blumi, ''Rethinking the Late Ottoman Empire: A Comparative Social and Political History of Albania and Yemen, 1878–1918''
(Istanbul: The Isis Press, 2003)</ref> Kosovo's status within Serbia was finalised the following year at the ].<ref>.</ref> Soon, there were concerted Serbian colonisation efforts in Kosovo during various periods between Serbia's 1912 takeover of the province and ]. So the population of Serbs in Kosovo fell after World War II, but it had increased considerably before then.<ref>Noel Malcolm, ''A short history of Kosovo'', (London, 1995)</ref>

An exodus of the local Albanian population occurred. Serbian authorities promoted creating new Serb settlements in Kosovo as well as the dissimilation of Albanians into Serbian society.<ref name = "Schabnel 2001 20">Schabnel, Albrecht; Thakur, Ramesh (eds). Kosovo and the Challenge of Humanitarian Intervention: Selective Indignation, ], and International Citizenship. New York: The United Nations University, 2001. Pp. 20.</ref> Numerous colonist Serb families moved into Kosovo, equalising the demographic balance between Albanians and Serbs.

====First World War and birth of Kingdom of Yugoslavia====
{{See Also|Colonisation of Kosovo}}
In the winter of 1915–16, during ], Kosovo saw the retreat of the Serbian army as Kosovo was occupied by ] and ].
In 1918, the Serbian Army pushed the ] out of Kosovo. After World War I ended, the Monarchy was then transformed into the ] on 1 December 1918.

Kosovo was split into four counties, three being a part of Serbia (Zvečan, Kosovo and southern Metohija) and one of Montenegro (northern Metohija). However, the new administration system since 26 April 1922 split Kosovo among three Areas of the Kingdom: Kosovo, ] and ]. In 1929, the Kingdom was transformed into the ] and the territories of Kosovo were reorganised among the ], the ] and the ].

In order to change the ethnic composition of Kosovo, between 1912 and 1941 a large-scale Serbian re-colonisation of Kosovo was undertaken by the Belgrade government. Meanwhile, Kosovar Albanians' right to receive education in their own language was denied alongside other non-Slavic or unrecognised ] of Yugoslavia, as the kingdom only recognised the Slavic Croat, Serb, and Slovene nations as ] of Yugoslavia, while other Slavs had to identify as one of the three official Slavic nations while non-Slav nations were only deemed as minorities.<ref name = "Schabnel 2001 20" />

Albanians and other Muslims were forced to emigrate, mainly with the ] which struck Albanian landowners in 1919, but also with direct violent measures.<ref name="daskalovski">Daskalovski, Židas. Claims to Kosovo: Nationalism and ]. In: Florian Bieber & Zidas Daskalovski (eds.), ''Understanding the War in Kosovo''. L.: Frank Cass, 2003. ISBN 0-7146-5391-8. P. 13-30.</ref><ref name="malcolm">]. ''Kosovo: A Short History''. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1998. ISBN 0-333-66612-7.</ref> In 1935 and 1938 two agreements between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and ] were signed on the expatriation of 240,000 Albanians to Turkey, which was not completed because of the outbreak of ].<ref>Ramet, Sabrina P. The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Ends: Kosovo in Serbian Perception. In Mary Buckley & Sally N. Cummings (eds.), ''Kosovo: Perceptions of War and Its Aftermath''. L.&nbsp;– N.Y.: Continuum Press, 2002. ISBN 0-8264-5670-7. P. 30-46.</ref>

====Second World War====
In 1941, Kosovo and Yugoslavia became involved in ] after the ] invaded Yugoslavia in 1941. Large parts of Kosovo became a part of ], other parts went to ] and ]-occupied ]. The Italian Fascist regime of ] with its expansionist and ] aims on both Albania and Yugoslavia exploited the nationalist sentiment amongst Albanians to gain favour of the Albanian population for the Italian-run protectorate which ruled Albania, and thus encouraged the establishment of a ] which included large portions of Kosovo which was achieved in the Second World War.<ref>Schabnel, Albrecht; Thakur (ed), Ramesh (ed), 2001. Pp. 20.</ref>

At the 1944 wartime ] conference the Kosovar communist resistance leaders passed a resolution on the postwar assignment of Kosovo to Albania, but their opinion was later disregarded.<ref name="malcolm"/> After numerous uprisings of ] led by ], Kosovo was liberated after 1944 with the help of the Albanian partisans of the ] and became a province of ] within the ].

====Kosovo in Communist Yugoslavia====
{{Main|Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1946-1974)|Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo}}

The province as in its outline today first took shape in 1945 as the ''Autonomous Kosovo-Metohian Area''. Until World War II, the only entity bearing the name of Kosovo had been a political unit carved from the former ] which bore no special significance to its internal population. In the ] (which previously controlled the territory), it had been a vilayet with its borders having been revised on several occasions. When the ] had last existed, it included areas which were by now either ceded to ], or found themselves within the newly created Yugoslav republics of ], or ] (including its previous capital, ]) with another part in the ] region of ].

Tensions between ethnic Albanians and the Yugoslav government were significant, not only due to national tensions but also due to political ideological concerns, especially regarding relations with neighbouring Albania.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 35">Independent International Commission on Kosovo. ''The Kosovo report: conflict, international response, lessons learned''. New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 2000. Pp. 35.</ref> Harsh repressive measures were imposed on Kosovo Albanians due to suspicions that they there were Kosovo Albanian sympathisers of the ] regime of ] of Albania.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 35"/> In 1956, a show trial in Pristina was held in which multiple Albanian Communists of Kosovo were convicted of being infiltrators from Albania and were given long prison sentences.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 35"/> High-ranking Serbian communist official ] sought to secure the position of the Serbs in Kosovo and gave them dominance in Kosovo's ].<ref>Melissa Katherine Bokovoy, Jill A. Irvine, Carol S. Lilly. State-society relations in Yugoslavia, 1945-1992. Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 1997. Pp. 295.</ref>

] in Kosovo at this time was repressed and both Albanians and Muslim Slavs were encouraged to declare themselves to be Turkish and emigrate to Turkey.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 35"/> At the same time ] and ] dominated the government, security forces, and industrial employment in Kosovo.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 35"/> Albanians resented these conditions and protested against them in the late 1960s, accusing the actions taken by authorities in Kosovo as being ], as well as demanding that Kosovo be made a republic, or declaring support for Albania.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 35"/>

After the ouster of Ranković in 1966, the agenda of pro-decentralisation reformers in Yugoslavia, especially from Slovenia and Croatia succeeded in the late 1960s in attaining substantial decentralisation of powers, creating substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Vojvodina, and recognising a ] nationality.<ref name="Melissa Katherine Bokovoy 1992. Pp. 296">Melissa Katherine Bokovoy, Jill A. Irvine, Carol S. Lilly. State-society relations in Yugoslavia, 1945-1992. Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 1997. Pp. 296.</ref> As a result of these reforms, there was a massive overhaul of Kosovo's nomenklatura and police, that shifted from being Serb-dominated to ethnic Albanian-dominated through firing Serbs in large scale.<ref name="Melissa Katherine Bokovoy 1992. Pp. 296"/> Further concessions were made to the ethnic Albanians of Kosovo in response to unrest, including the creation of the ] as an ] institution.<ref name="Melissa Katherine Bokovoy 1992. Pp. 296"/> These changes created widespread fear amongst Serbs that they were being made ]s in Yugoslavia by these changes.<ref>Melissa Katherine Bokovoy, Jill A. Irvine, Carol S. Lilly. State-society relations in Yugoslavia, 1945-1992. Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 1997. Pp. 301.</ref> In the 1974 Constitution of Yugoslavia, Kosovo was granted major autonomy, allowing it to have its own administration, assembly, and judiciary; as well as having a membership in the collective presidency and the Yugoslav parliament, in which it held veto power.<ref>Independent International Commission on Kosovo. ''The Kosovo report: conflict, international response, lessons learned''. New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 2000. Pp. 35-36.</ref>

In the aftermath of the 1974 constitution, concerns over the rise of Albanian nationalism in Kosovo rose with the widespread celebrations in 1978 of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ].<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 35"/> Albanians felt that their status as a "minority" in Yugoslavia had made them second-class citizens in comparison with the "nations" of Yugoslavia and demanded that Kosovo be a ], alongside the other republics of Yugoslavia.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 36">Independent International Commission on Kosovo. ''The Kosovo report: conflict, international response, lessons learned''. New York, New York, USA: Oxford University Press, 2000. Pp. 36.</ref> Protests by Albanians in 1981 over the status of Kosovo resulted in Yugoslav territorial defence units being brought into Kosovo and a state of emergency being declared resulting in violence and the protests being crushed.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 36"/> In the aftermath of the 1981 protests, purges took place in the Communist Party, and rights that had been recently granted to Albanians were rescinded - including ending the provision of Albanian professors and Albanian language textbooks in the education system.<ref name="Kosovo. 2000. Pp. 36"/>

Due to very high ]s, the number of Albanians increased from 75% to over 90%. In contrast, the number of Serbs barely increased, and in fact dropped from 15% to 8% of the total population, since many Serbs departed from Kosovo as a response to the tight economic climate and increased incidents of alleged harassment from their Albanian neighbours. While there was tension, charges of "genocide" and planned harassments have been debunked as an excuse to revoke Kosovo's autonomy. For example in 1986 the ] published an official claim that Kosovo Serbs were being subjected to an Albanian program of 'Genocide'.<ref name="books.google.com">{{Cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=ap8wa_YmT2QC&pg=PA215&dq=genocide+false+kosovo |title=Religion and the creation of race ... - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20|isbn=9780814767016|author1=Prentiss, Craig R|year=2003}}</ref>

Even though they were disproved by police statistics,<ref name="books.google.com"/> they received wide play in the Serbian press and that led to further ethnic problems and eventual removal of Kosovo's status. Beginning in March 1981, Kosovar Albanian students of the University of Pristina organised protests seeking that Kosovo become a republic within Yugoslavia along with ].<ref name="nyt19810419">New York Times 1981-04-19, "One Storm has Passed but Others are Gathering in Yugoslavia"</ref> The protests were brutally suppressed by the police and army, with many protesters arrested.<ref name="hdk">]. ''Historical Dictionary of Kosova''. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2004. ISBN 0-8108-5309-4.</ref> During the 1980s, ethnic tensions continued with frequent violent outbreaks against Yugoslav state authorities resulting in a further increase in emigration of Kosovo Serbs and other ]s.<ref name="reuters19860527">Reuters 1986-05-27, "Kosovo 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 Kosovo Serbs seeking protection from ] and violence.<ref name="nyt19870627">New York Times 1987-06-27, "Belgrade Battles Kosovo Serbs"</ref>

====Disintegration of Yugoslavia====

{{Main|Kosovo War|Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1990–1999)|Republic of Kosova (1990–2000)}}

{{See|Disintegration of Yugoslavia}}

] over the ], connecting the Serbian and Albanian parts of the city of ].]]

Inter-ethnic tensions continued to worsen in Kosovo throughout the 1980s.
The 1986 ] warned that Yugoslavia was suffering from ethnic strife and the disintegration of the Yugoslav economy into separate ] and territories, which was transforming the federal state into a loose confederation.<ref>SANU (1986): . GIP Kultura. Belgrade.</ref>

On June 28, 1989, ] delivered the ] in front of a large number of Serb citizens at the main celebration marking the 600th anniversary of the ]. 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>
In 1989, Milošević, employing a mix of intimidation and political manoeuvring, drastically reduced Kosovo's special autonomous status within Serbia and started cultural oppression of the ethnic Albanian population.<ref name="rogel">Rogel, Carole. . ''International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society'', Vol. 17, No. 1 (September 2003): 167–82.</ref> Kosovo Albanians responded with a ] separatist movement, employing widespread ] and creation of parallel structures in ] care, and taxation, with the ultimate goal of achieving the independence of Kosovo.<ref>Clark, Howard. ''Civil Resistance in Kosovo''. London: ], 2000. ISBN 0-7453-1569-0.</ref>

On July 2, 1990, the self declared Kosovo parliament declared Kosovo an independent country, the ]. In May 1992, ] was elected president.<ref name="babuna">Babuna, Aydın. . ''Perceptions'' 8(3), September–November 2003: 43-69.</ref> During its lifetime, the Republic of Kosova was only ] by ]; it was formally disbanded in 2000, after the Kosovo War, when its institutions were replaced by the ] established by the ] (UNMIK).

====Kosovo War====
{{Main|Kosovo War|War crimes in the Kosovo War }}
{{See Also|Organ theft in Kosovo}}
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.

Between March 24 and June 10, 1999, ] by bombing Yugoslavia aimed to force Milošević to withdraw his forces from Kosovo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/kosovo/all-frce.htm|title=Operation Allied Force|publisher=]}}</ref> This military action was not authorised by the Security Council of the United Nations and was therefore contrary to the provisions of the United Nations Charter. Combined with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces the conflict resulted in a further massive displacement of population in Kosovo.<ref>{{cite web|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>

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">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/514828.stm |title=World: Europe UN gives figure for Kosovo dead | work=BBC News | date=1999-11-10 | accessdate=2010-01-05}}</ref> Some 3,000 people are still missing, of which 2,500 are Albanian, 400 Serbs and 100 ].<ref>{{Cite news|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 | work=BBC News | accessdate=2010-01-05}}</ref> Ultimately by June, Milošević had agreed to a foreign military presence within Kosovo and withdrawal of his troops.

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>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/slobodan_milosevic/cis/en/cis_milosevic_slobodan.pdf |title=ICTY.org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/milutinovic/cis/en/cis_milutinovic_al_en.pdf |title=ICTY.org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/djordjevic/cis/en/cis_djordjevic_en.pdf |title=ICTY.org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/djordjevic/ind/en/dor-3rdai070119.pdf |title=ICTY/org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</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 ]. 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>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/limaj/cis/en/cis_limaj_al_en.pdf |title=ICTY.org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/haradinaj/cis/en/cis_haradinaj_al_en.pdf |title=ICTY.org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/limaj/ind/en/lim-2ai040212e.pdf|title=Second Amended Indictment - Limaj et al |publisher=Icty.org |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

===UN administration period===
{{Main|Kosovo (UNMIK)|Kosovo status process}}
] river.]]
]
On June 10, 1999, the UN Security Council passed ], which placed Kosovo under transitional UN administration (]) and authorised ], a NATO-led peacekeeping force. Resolution 1244 provided that Kosovo would have autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and affirmed the ] of Yugoslavia, which has been legally succeeded by the Republic of Serbia.<ref name="autogenerated1999">{{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>

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>" ", report by ], ] Commissioner for Human Rights, Strasbourg, October 16, 2002, p. 30.</ref> The current number of ]s is disputed,<ref>], Critical Appraisal of Responsee Mechanisms Operating in Kosovo 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 Kosovo, p. 2–3.</ref><ref>" ", report by ], ] Commissioner for Human Rights, Strasbourg, October 16, 2002.</ref><ref>International Relations and Security Network (ISN): , by Tim Judah, June 7, 2004.</ref> with estimates ranging from 65,000<ref>European Stability Initiative (ESI): , June 7, 2004.</ref> to 250,000.<ref>Coordinating Centre of Serbia for Kosovo-Metohija: Principles of the program for return of internally displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija.</ref><ref>]: 2002 Annual Statistical Report: ], pg. 9</ref><ref>] (USCRI): .</ref> Many displaced Serbs are afraid to return to their homes, even with UNMIK protection. Around 120,000-150,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo, but are subject to ongoing harassment and discrimination due to physical threats for their safety.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{Cite news|author=Michael Montgomery |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7990984.stm |title=Europe &#124; Horrors of KLA prison camps revealed |publisher=BBC News |date=2009-04-10 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

International negotiations began in 2006 to determine the final status of Kosovo, as envisaged under ]. The UN-backed talks, led by UN ] ], began in February 2006. Whilst progress was made on technical matters, both parties remained diametrically opposed on the question of status itself.<ref>" ", ''BBC News'', October 9, 2006.</ref>

In February 2007, Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, the basis for a draft ] which proposes 'supervised independence' for the province. A draft resolution, backed by the ], the ] and other European members of the ], 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 Kosovo status |author=Southeast European Times |date=2007-06-29 |accessdate=2009-07-24}}</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 Kosovo 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 Kosovo |author=Southeast European Times |date= 2007-07-10 |accessdate= 2009-07-24}}</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=2007-03-30 |publisher=Financial Times}}</ref>

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 "]" consisting of negotiators from the ] (]), the United States (]) and ] (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 recognise Kosovar independence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2209907,00.html |title=Bosnian nightmare returns to haunt EU |author=Simon Tisdall |date=2007-11-13 |publisher=The Guardian | location=London}}</ref> A declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until the end of the ] (4 February 2008). Most ] and the US had feared that a premature declaration could boost support in Serbia for the ultra-nationalist candidate, ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6386467.stm |title=Europe &#124; Q&A: Kosovo's future |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-07-11 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

====UN administration 1999–present====
{{POV|date=November 2008}}
{{Main|United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo|Provisional Institutions of Self-Government|}}
{{Main|Political status of Kosovo|Kosovo status process}}
On June 10, 1999, the UN Security Council passed ], which placed Kosovo under transitional UN administration (]) and authorised ], a NATO-led peacekeeping force. Resolution 1244 provided that Kosovo would have autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and affirmed the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia, which has been legally succeeded by the Republic of Serbia.<ref name="autogenerated1999"/>

According to the ], Kosovo shall have a 120-member Kosovo Assembly. The Assembly includes twenty reserved seats: ten for Kosovo Serbs and ten for non-Serb minorities (Bosniaks, Roma, etc.). The Kosovo Assembly is responsible for electing a President and Prime Minister of Kosovo.

====Provisional Institutions of Self-Government====
In November 2001, the ] supervised the first elections for the Kosovo Assembly.<ref>" ", Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe</ref> After that election, Kosovo's political parties formed an all-party unity coalition and elected ] as President and ] (PDK) as Prime Minister.<ref>" ", ], 21 February 2002</ref> After Kosovo-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 ] (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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/docs/BW2005/Balkan_Watch.11April_05.pdf |title=Publicinternationallaw.org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref>

] were held on 17 November 2007. After early results, ] who was on course to gain 35 per cent of the vote, claimed victory for PDK, the ], and stated his intention to declare independence. Thaçi formed a coalition with current President ]'s ] which was in second place with 22 percent of the vote.<ref>" ", BBC News, 9 January 2008</ref> The turnout at the election was particularly low. Most members of the Serb minority refused to vote.<ref>. Retrieved 18 November 2007.</ref>

However, since 1999, the Serb-inhabited areas of Kosovo, such as ] have remained ''de facto'' independent from the Albanian-dominated government in ]. ] in the Serb areas are dominated by the ]. The Serbian List is led by ], an engineer from Mitrovica. Within Serbia, Kosovo is the concern of the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija, currently led by minister ].<ref>] official site: </ref>

===Declaration of independence===
].]]
]
]
{{Main|2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|International recognition of Kosovo|2008 unrest in Kosovo}}

Kosovo declared independence on 17 February 2008<ref name="bbc_proclaim">"", ], 17 February 2008</ref> and over the following days, a number of ] (the ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], the ],<ref>{{Cite news|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 ] and ] 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><ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/0,,pagePK:180619~theSitePK:136917,00.html#k |title=World Bank Cauntries}}</ref>

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|2010|05}}, 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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}

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>

{{As of|2008|10|9}}, all of Kosovo's immediate neighbour states except ] have recognised the declaration of independence. ] and ] 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>

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>
{{Wikinews|Kosovo independence ruled legal by International Court of Justice}}

On 8 October 2008, the ] resolved to request the ] to render an advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia.<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> ], which is legally non-binding but had been expected to carry "moral" weight,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/12398/ |title=ICJ Kosovo Ruling Will Have Only 'Moral' Weight |publisher=BalkanInsight.com |date= |accessdate=2010-07-26}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> was rendered on 22 July 2010, holding that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not in violation of international law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35396&Cr=&Cr1= |title=Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law – UN court |publisher=] News Centre |date=2010-07-22 |accessdate=2010-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbcnewsamerica.com/icjinternational-court-of-justice.html |title=ICJ,International Court Of Justice:Declaration of independence of Kosovo from Serbia is not a violation of international law |publisher=Bbcnewsamerica.com |date= |accessdate=2011-01-02}}</ref>

==Government and politics==
===EULEX===
{{Main|European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo}}
]]]
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>

Local politics in the Serb areas are dominated by the ]. The Serbian List is led by ], an engineer from Kosovska Mitrovica.

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>{{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".

The Eulex mission intends to remain in Kosovo until at least June 2012.<ref name="Eulex website">{{Cite news|url=http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu/en/pressreleases/0065.php|title=EULEX mandate extended for two years|last=Eulex website|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref>

===Constitutional status and the Republic of Kosovo===
{{See|Constitution of Kosovo}}
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>{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kushtetutakosoves.info/?cid=2,1 |title=Constitution of Kosovo - Official Website |publisher=Kushtetutakosoves.info |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>; </ref>
Kosovo is under ''de facto'' governance of the Republic of Kosovo except for ], which remains under ''de facto'' governance of Serbia.{{dubious|date=November 2010}} 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 elections were held ]. Last local elections were held in November 2009, the first elections since Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008.] 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>

===Government===
{{Main|Government of Kosovo}}
]
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.

The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is responsible for implementation of laws
and state policies and is subject to parliamentarian control.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kushtetutakosoves.info |title=Form of Government}}</ref>

The Government consists of the Prime Minister, deputy prime minister(s) and ministers. The Government of Kosovo exercises the executive power in compliance with the Constitution and the law. The Government implements laws and other acts adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo and exercises other activities within the scope of responsibilities set forth by the Constitution and the law.The Government makes decisions in accordance with this Constitution and the laws, proposes draft laws, proposes amendments to existing laws or other acts and may give its opinion on draft laws that are not proposed by it.

The Supreme Court of Kosovo is the highest judicial authority foreseen by the constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. A ] force was established in 1999 and remains subordinated to the UNMIK Police.

The Government has the following competencies: Proposes and implements the internal and foreign policies of the country, makes decisions and issues legal acts or regulations necessary for the implementation of laws, promotes the economic development of the country, proposes draft laws and other acts to the Assembly, proposes the budget of the Republic of Kosovo, guides and oversees the work of administration bodies, guides the activities and the development of public services, proposes to the President of the Republic of Kosovo the appointment and dismissal of the heads of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Kosovo, etc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kushtetutakosoves.info/?cid=2,260 |title=Competencies of the Government}}</ref>

===Politics===
{{Main|Politics of Kosovo}}
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.

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Kosovo}}
Currently 18 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}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

===Military===
A 2,500-strong ] (KSF) was trained by ] instructors and became operational on September 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazetaexpress.com/web/index.php/artikujt/lexo/15467/C4/C16/|title=FSK nis zyrtarisht punën|date=September 18, 2009|accessdate=January 14, 2010|publisher=Gazeta Express|language=Albanian|location=Pristina, Kosovo}}</ref> The KSF did not replace the ] (KPC) which was disbanded several months later. Fehmi Mujota is Minister for the Kosovo Security Force of the Republic of Kosovo.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Kosovo}}

Kosovo represents an important link between central and southern Europe and the Adriatic and Black Seas. Kosovo has an area of 10,908 square km.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitkosova.org/test/?page=2,4 |title=Visit Kosova}}</ref> It lies between latitudes ] and ], and longitudes ] and ].

Its 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 ].
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>

The largest cities are ], the capital, with an estimated 500,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osce.org/documents/mik/2008/04/1199_en.pdf |title=OSCE.org |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</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.

In October 2009, Kosovo signed an agreement to re-adjust its border with the Republic of Macedonia by exchanging some lands <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/16/ap/world/main5391035.shtml |title=Latest AP - World Headlines |publisher=CBS News |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>

North or Northern Kosovo is a region in the northern part of Kosovo with an ethnic ] majority that functions largely autonomously from the remainder of Kosovo.<ref>BBC, , 22.02.08</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vesti.krstarica.com/?rubrika=aktuelno&lang=0&sifra=afe653d27adc512847b316b901649c6d&dan=28&mesec=08&godina=2009 |title=Krstraica, August 28, 2009 |publisher=Vesti.krstarica.com |date= |accessdate=2011-01-02}}</ref> Ibarian Kolashin, a ] that pre-dates the political partition, is also used to refer to the area.
North Kosovo is by far the largest of the ], and unlike the others, directly borders ]. This has facilitated its ability to govern itself almost completely independently of the Kosovo institutions in a ] state of ]. Although the ] had repeatedly ruled out formalizing this partition as a permanent solution, it has been increasingly mooted amidst continued deadlock.<ref name="partition1">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6943442.stm |title=Kosovo partition 'on the table' |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-08-12 |accessdate=2011-01-02}}</ref><ref name="partition2">{{cite web|url=http://kosovo.birn.eu.com/en/1/70/2698/ |title=BIRN - Serbia Plays Kosovo Partition Card |publisher=Kosovo.birn.eu.com |date=2007-04-19 |accessdate=2011-01-02}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Kosovo}}
] reserves compared to the world]]
] in Pristina.]]
] mural, ] in Pristina.]]
]

The economic policy of the Republic of Kosovo aims toward a free trade system. In this context, it has drafted a legal framework that ensures the fulfillment of European standards of competitiveness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitkosova.org/test/?page=2,4 |title=Economic Policy }}</ref>

Kosovo has Europe's second largest coal reserves<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSL169085720091001 |title=reuters |author=Jan Korselt Michael Kahn james Jukwey |date= Thu October 1, 2009 | work=Reuters}}</ref>

Kosovo is classified a ] by ], 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 (Trepča) 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 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080709043217/http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1585&l=1 |archivedate = July 9, 2008}}</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>

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.

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>

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 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080612001923/http://www.buyusa.gov/kosovo/en/doingbusinessinkosovo.html |archivedate = June 12, 2008}}</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"/>

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>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/437844.stm |title=BBC News, Kosovo adopts Deutschmark |publisher=BBC News |date=1999-09-03 |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</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"/>

The chief means of entry, apart from the main highway leading to the south to ], ], is ].

===Trade and investment===
Free trade:
Customs-free access to the EU market based on the EU Autonomous Trade Preference (ATP) Regime, Central European Free Trade Area–CEFTA<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pak-ks.org/?id=19 |title= Economic Description:free trade |author=PAK }}</ref>

Kosovo has a liberal trade regime

Kosovo currently enjoys a free trade within Central European Free Trade Agreement–CEFTA, enabling its producers to access
the regional market comprising of 28 million consumers, free of any customs duties.

Taking into consideration the favourable business climate, stable macroeconomic environment and the excellent opportunities across different business sectors, Kosovo is increasingly becoming a very attractive place for doing business. As result, the interest
of foreign investors has been increasing steadily during the past years and together with it also the inflow of FDI.
According to the Business Registry data for 2007, there are 2,012 companies of foreign and mixed ownership that
have already used the opportunity to invest in Kosovo.

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency MIGA (a member of the World Bank Group) guarantees investments in Kosovo in
the value of 20 million Euro.

The US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) also provides political risk insurance for foreign investors in Kosovo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eciks.org/english/publications/investorsguide09.pdf |title=Investments |author=ECIKS}}</ref>

The economy is hindered by Kosovo's still-unresolved international status, which has made it difficult to attract investment and loans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4509781.stm |title=Brussels offers first Kosovo loan |author=BBC News |date= 2005-05-03 | accessdate=2010-01-05}}</ref>
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>

Kosovo has a reported ] of 1,264&nbsp;billion USD that is currently serviced by Serbia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2637230220080226 |title=Serbia should stop servicing Kosovo debt: EconMin &#124; International |publisher=Reuters |date=2008-02-26 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

According to ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eciks.org/english/invest.php?action=total_invest&main_id=13 |title=ECIKS |publisher=ECIKS |date=2010-04-22 |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref> from 2001 to 2004 Kosovo received $3,2&nbsp;billion of foreign aid. International donor conference is to be held in Switzerland in June or July 2008. Until now EU pledged €2&nbsp;billion, $350 mil by USA. Serbia also pledged €120&nbsp;million to Serb's enclaves in Kosovo.

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.

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>

==Administrative regions==
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>
] maintains its own government, infrastructure and institutions by its dominant ethnic ] population in the ], viz. in the ], ] and ] municipalities and the northern part of ].

===Districts===
{{Main|Subdivisions of Kosovo|Districts of Kosovo}}

===Municipalities and cities===
{{Main|Municipalities of Kosovo}}
Kosovo is subdivided into 30 municipalities:
{{Municipalities of Kosovo}}

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Kosovo}}
]
]

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 news|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 news|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&nbsp;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>
According to latest CIA ] 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>

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 the ethnic boundary by which Albanians compose an absolute majority in every municipality; for example, Serbs form a local majority in ] and ], while there are large areas with an Albanian majority outside of Kosovo, namely in the neighbouring regions of former Yugoslavia: the north-west of ], and in the ] in ].

At 1.3% per year, ethnic Albanians in Kosovo have the fastest rate of growth in population in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.osa.ceu.hu/holdings/300/8/3/text/3-13-10.shtml |title=Albanian Population Growth |publisher=Files.osa.ceu.hu |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref> Over an 82-year period (1921–2003) the population of Kosovo grew to 460% of its original size. If growth continues at such a pace, the population will reach 4.5&nbsp;million by 2050.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kosovo-hotels.com/index.php?mod=kos_profile |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080212143112/http://kosovo-hotels.com/index.php?mod=kos_profile |archivedate=2008-02-12 |title=Kosovo-Hotels, Prishtina - Kosovo-Hotels, Prishtinë |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2008-02-12 |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</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, 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.

By contrast, from ] to ], the Serb population of Kosovo increased by mere 12% (one third the growth of the population in Central Serbia). In addition, in the same period, hundreds of thousands have left to settle in more prosperous ] or Western Europe. 60% of Kosovo's pre-1999 ] population resides in Serbia proper following the ] campaign in 1999. The population of Albanians in Kosovo increased by 300% 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.

===Languages===
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>{{cite web|url=http://www.kosovoconstitution.info/repository/docs/DraftConstitutionEnglish.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - DraftConstitution English..doc |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}{{Dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref>

===Religion===

].]]
{{Main|Religion in Kosovo}}

The two main religions of Kosovo are Islam and Christianity. Muslims make up 90% of Kosovo's population,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4385768.stm |title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-12-23 |accessdate=2011-01-02}}</ref> and followers are mostly ], with a ] minority.<ref name="babuna"/> Islam was 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, does not dominate 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. There are an estimated 65,000 Catholics in Kosovo and another 60,000 Kosovar born Catholics outside of Kosovo.<ref> ''catholicnews.com'' 9 February 2009 Link accessed 21 March 2010</ref> 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 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080708230014/http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1591&l=1 |archivedate = July 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90198.htm#kosovo |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2007 (U.S. Department of States) - Serbia (includes Kosovo) |publisher=State.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71405.htm#kosovo |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2006 (U.S. Department of States) - Serbia and Montenegro (includes Kosovo) |publisher=State.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref> Some 140 churches are reported to have been destroyed and partly looted for the black market in the 1999 to 2004 period, of these 30 in a single outburst of ].<ref>{{cite web|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,FORUM18,,SRB,,468918a14,0.html |title=Refworld &#124; Kosovo: Nobody charged for destruction of Orthodox churches and monasteries |publisher=UNHCR |date=2004-05-06 |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

There is also a small number of evangelical ]s, whose tradition dates back to the ] missionaries' work centered in ] in the late 1800s. They are represented by the Kosovo Protestant Evangelical Church (KPEC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kishaprotestante.net|title=Mirësevini në faqen zyrtare të Kishës Protestante Ungjillore të Kosovës|last=Protestant Church of Kosovo web page|accessdate=12 November 2010}}</ref>

According to the governments of the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia, there is no official or state religion of Kosovo.

==Society==
].]]

===Relations between Albanian and Serb communities===
The relations between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian and Serb populations have been hostile since the rise of nationalism 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 oppose 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"/>

===The Roma and other minorities===
Despite of their planned integration into the Kosovar society, and their recognition in the Kosovar constitution, many difficulties of segregation and discrimination continue to face ] and other minorities (i.e. Ashkali and Egyptian communities), on the levels of housing, education, health, employment and social welfare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dissidentvoice.org/Articles/Rifati_Kosovo.htm |title=The Roma and "Humanitarian" Ethnic Cleansing in Kosovo |publisher=Dissidentvoice.org |date= |accessdate=2010-06-19}}</ref> Many camps around Kosovo continue to house thousands of ], all of which are from minority groups and communities.<ref>{{cite web|author=Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) - Norwegian Refugee Council |url=http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpCountries)/165F03EE03E9D015C1257662005CE095?opendocument&count=10000 |title=IDMC &#124; Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) in Kosovo |publisher=Internal-displacement.org |date= |accessdate=2010-06-19}}</ref> Because many of the Roma are believed to have sided with the Serbs during the conflict, taking part in the widespread looting and destruction of Albanian property, ] report that Romani people encounter hostility by Albanians outside their local areas.<ref>{{cite web|author=Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) - Norwegian Refugee Council |url=http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004CE90B/(httpEnvelopes)/B4A8E121B6EA5BBB802570B8005AA863?OpenDocument |title=IDMC : Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre &#124; Countries &#124; Kosovo &#124; Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptians in Kosovo (2006) |publisher=Internal-displacement.org |date= |accessdate=2010-06-19}}</ref> The report adds:

{{quote|text=In Kosovo, the critical issue for most minorities has been that of day-to-day security. Organized violence, harassment and attacks on property began at the start of the international administration and have continued ever since. Minorities do not feel adequately protected by the authorities in Kosovo. As described above, organized systematic ethnic cleansing took place in 1999 and 2004, but at all times ongoing insecurity has been chronic. What is critical is not only the actual insecurity but also the perception of minorities as to whether they can be adequately protected.
|sign=]|source=''Minority Rights in Kosovo under International Rule'', 2006, p. 16.}}

===Culture and media===
{{See also|Music of Kosovo|List of radio stations in Kosovo|Television in Kosovo}}
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 ]).

===Sports===
{{Main|Sport in Kosovo}}

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.

===Rule of law===
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">{{cite web|url=http://www.unmikonline.org/civpol/statistics.htm |title=UNMIK statistics |publisher=Unmikonline.org |date= |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref> According to the ], by 2008, murder rates in Kosovo had dropped by 75% in five years.<ref>Retrieved from </ref><ref>, ] report, March 2008. P. 39.</ref>

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>

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>

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 news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/mar/13/balkans |title=Kosovo drug mafia supply heroin to Europe &#124; World news |publisher=The Guardian |accessdate=2009-07-20 | location=London | date=2000-03-13 | first=Maggie | last=O'Kane}}</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>

In 2010, a report by Swiss MP ] claimed to have evidence that a criminal network tied to the ] and the Prime Minister, ], executed prisoners and harvested their kidneys for organ transplantation. The Kosovo government rejected the allegation.<ref>{{cite news|last=BBC|title=Kosovo rejects Hashim Thaci organ-trafficking claims|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11996255|date=15 December 2010}}</ref> On January 25, 2011, the ] endorsed the report and called for a full and serious investigation into ].<ref> The Guardian, 14 December 2010, retrieved 2 February 2011</ref><ref name="Balkan2">{{cite news |title=Council Adopts Kosovo Organ Trafficking Resolution |author= |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/council-adopts-kosovo-organ-trafficking-resolution |newspaper=Balkan Insight |date=January 25, 2011 |accessdate=26 January 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Kosovo}}
{{Main|Outline of Kosovo}}
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==References==
===Notes===
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===Sources===
*{{citation|last=Lellio|first=Anna Di|title=The case for Kosova: passage to independence|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=aNEW0jtOjK8C&pg=PP1|date=2006-06|publisher=Anthem Press|isbn=9781843312291}}
*{{Citation|last=Elsie |first=Robert |authorlink=Robert Elsie |title=Historical Dictionary of Kosova |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2004 |isbn=0810853094}}
*{{Citation|last=Malcolm |first=Noel |authorlink=Noel Malcolm |title=Kosovo: A Short History |publisher=] |year=1998 |isbn=0333666127}}

==External links==
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*{{wikiatlas|Kosovo}}
*{{CIA World Factbook link|kv|Kosovo}}
*{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Serbia/Kosovo}}
*{{Wikitravel}}

{{Kosovo topics}}
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