Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. Kosovo's status had been - and still is - the subject of a political and territorial dispute between the Serbian (previously, the Yugoslav) government and Kosovo's Albanian population. Kosovo's Albanians have long favored independence from Serbia. Serbian President Boris Tadic rejected the independence bid, saying the declaration was "unilateral and illegal". Kosovo independence was strongly opposed by Russia as well as the Serbs but the U.S. and many European countries supported the move. Since the Independence declaration, tensions among ethnic Serbs in Kosovo has been steadily increasing. Serb riots in Kosovo on March 17, 2008 led to the death of a United Nations peacekeeping soldier, among others.
Kosovo Independence Recent News Stories
- Google News: Kosovo Independence
- BBC News: UN Officer Dies After Kosovo Riot (March 18, 2008)
- Agence France-Presse: Rice Calls for Kosovo Sides to Refrain From Violence (March 18, 2008)
- VOA News: NATO Troops Fire Shock Grenades at Protesters in Northern Kosovo (March 18, 2008)
- International Herald Tribune: Russia urges Islamic nations not to recognize Kosovo (March 18, 2008)
- Reuters: Serbia effectively seeks Kosovo partition-sources (March 18, 2008)
- Reuters: NATO vows to respond firmly to Kosovo violence (March 17, 2008)
- Washington Post: Kosovo Marks First Week of Independence (Februray 24, 2008)
- The Economist: The world's newest state (February 21, 2008)
- New York Times: Kosovo Declares Its Independence From Serbia (February 18, 2008)
Kosovo Independence - After the Declaration
- Guardian Unlimited: Moscow condemns EU plans for Kosovo police mission (February 20, 2008)
Kosovo Independence - Serbian Response
- Reuters: Serbian coalition splits over EU-Kosovo policy (March 6, 2008)
- Guardian Unlimited: Serb protesters attack Kosovan outposts (February 19, 2008)
- BBC News: Kosovo Serbs burn border points (February 19, 2008)
- Times Online: Serbs vent anger at Kosovo independence declaration (February 18, 2008)
- Reuters: Serbs in for long-haul fight against Kosovo state (February 17, 2008)
- The Observer: Serbs warn of Kosovo clash (February 10, 2008)
- Serbian President Boris Tadic says if Kosovo declares independence from Serbia too soon, civil war will likely break out.
Kosovo Independence Central Figures
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
The EU plans to send a support force of 1,800 - taking over from the current UN presence
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Fact:
US and EU support for the declaration recommended in a report for the UN by Martti Ahtisaari
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Fact:
Serbia offered Kosovo autonomy but not independence
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20 to 22 European Union nations plan to recognize the declaration
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Fact:
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The United Nations has said that the EU support undermines the Security Council
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Fact:
International negotiations began in 2006 to determine the final status of Kosovo
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Fact:
Kosovo is one of Europe's poorest regions
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Ethnic Albanians
1.5 million
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Fact:
Around 100,000 Serbs
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Fact:
Serbian minority live in separate areas watched over by Nato peacekeepers
