Changes

====US-backed Kosovo separatists====

====US-backed Kosovo separatists====

[[File:Albright Thaci.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Clintyon Secretary of State [[Madeleine Albright]] and Hashim Thaci.]]

[[File:Albright Thaci.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Clintyon Secretary of State [[Madeleine Albright]] and Hashim Thaci.]]

In February 2008, [[Kosovo]] declared itself to be an independent state: however, Serbia does not recognise the former province's declaration of independence.

In February 2008, Kosovo declared itself to be an independent state: however, Serbia does not recognise the former province's declaration of independence.

Kosovo was an international protectorate of the United Nations as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244, which was passed June 10, 1999. Under UNSCR 1244, UNMIK assumed the supreme legal authority in Kosovo, and worked to create "substantial autonomy and self-governance" in Kosovo. The senior international official in Kosovo was the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), who had sweeping legal authority to govern Kosovo. He presided over UN and other international organizations with missions in Kosovo, such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and European Union (EU), and had the final authority in approving legislation and decisions taken by Kosovo's provisional government. In September 2006, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed German diplomat Joachim Ruecker to be the new SRSG. Previously, Ruecker served as the head of UNMIK Pillar IV, where he led efforts to privatize former socially-owned enterprises.  

Kosovo was an international protectorate of the United Nations as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244, which was passed June 10, 1999. Under UNSCR 1244, UNMIK assumed the supreme legal authority in Kosovo, and worked to create "substantial autonomy and self-governance" in Kosovo. The senior international official in Kosovo was the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), who had sweeping legal authority to govern Kosovo. He presided over UN and other international organizations with missions in Kosovo, such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and European Union (EU), and had the final authority in approving legislation and decisions taken by Kosovo's provisional government. In September 2006, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed German diplomat Joachim Ruecker to be the new SRSG. Previously, Ruecker served as the head of UNMIK Pillar IV, where he led efforts to privatize former socially-owned enterprises.  

{{Anchor|KFOR}}

{{Anchor|KFOR}}

Resolution 1244 brought [[human trafficking]] and sex slavery to Kosovo. '''KFOR's''' strength was approximately 16,000 international troops, including approximately 1,700 U.S. troops (mostly U.S. National Guard). KFOR numbers are expected to steadily decline as the security situation improves and as local security structures, such as the Kosovo Police Service, increase their capacity to operate effectively.  

Resolution 1244 brought [[human trafficking]] and sex slavery to [[Kosovo]]. '''KFOR's''' strength was approximately 16,000 international troops, including approximately 1,700 U.S. troops (mostly U.S. National Guard). KFOR numbers are expected to steadily decline as the security situation improves and as local security structures, such as the Kosovo Police Service, increase their capacity to operate effectively.  

In 2001, the SRSG promulgated a "Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo." This document established a Kosovo Assembly and new Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). In November 2001, Kosovo held its first elections for the three-year term of the Kosovo Assembly. The elections were administered and supervised by the OSCE. The main political parties included the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), led by Ibrahim Rugova; Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), led by KLA terrorist Hashim Thaci; the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), led by former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj; and the Serb coalition party Povratak. The LDK won the elections with 46% of the vote, and the PDK came in second with 26%. They were followed by Povratak at 11% and the AAK at 8%. OSCE judged the elections free and fair.  

In 2001, the SRSG promulgated a "Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo." This document established a Kosovo Assembly and new Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). In November 2001, Kosovo held its first elections for the three-year term of the Kosovo Assembly. The elections were administered and supervised by the OSCE. The main political parties included the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), led by Ibrahim Rugova; Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), led by KLA terrorist Hashim Thaci; the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), led by former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj; and the Serb coalition party Povratak. The LDK won the elections with 46% of the vote, and the PDK came in second with 26%. They were followed by Povratak at 11% and the AAK at 8%. OSCE judged the elections free and fair.