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'''Kosovo''' is a region in the south of [[Serbia]].  The area has been under [[United Nations]] administration since 1999 because of conflict stemming from the desire for independence.  Kosovo's population is mostly ethnic-[[Albania]]n, a stark contrast to the rest of the population of Serbia.

'''Kosovo''' is a region in the south of [[Serbia]].  The area has been under [[United Nations]] administration since 1999 because of conflict stemming from the desire for independence.  Kosovo's population is mostly ethnic-[[Albania]]n, a stark contrast to the rest of the population of Serbia.

Kosovo was once an almost totally [[Serbia]]n land. Under the long [[Ottoman]] rule, the land became more and more inhabited by Albanians migrants. The [[Turkey|Turkish]] dominators favored the arrival of Albanians which ended up turning a [[Christian]] region into a [[Muslim]]-majority one.

Kosovo was once an almost totally [[Serbia]]n land. Under the long [[Ottoman]] rule, the land became more and more inhabited by Albanian migrants. The [[Turkey|Turkish]] dominators favored the arrival of Albanians which ended up turning a [[Christian]] region into a [[Muslim]]-majority one. By the early 20th century, the Serbs were still in the majority, but because of demographic changes such as a high Albanian birth rate and Serb migration, they became the minority.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/20/wserb20.xml Serbs fear losing soul of their nation in Kosovo]</ref> [[Enver Hoxha]], the [[Stalinism|Stalinist]] dictator of [[Albania]] from 1945 to his death in 1985, took advantage of this and created the precursor to the [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] (KLA) in 1979.<ref>[http://unddr.org/docs/Beating%20Swords%20Into%20Plowshares.pdf BEATING SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES: Reintegration of Former Combatants in Kosovo], United Nations Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Resource Centre</ref>

Like [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], and [[Bosnia]], Kosovo tried to break off from the former [[Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s.  Serbian resistance led to the [[Kosovo War]], with both the United Nations and [[NATO]] intervening to stop violence.

Like [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], and [[Bosnia]], the Albanians in Kosovo tried to break off from the former [[Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s.  Serbian resistance led to the [[Kosovo War]], with both the United Nations and [[NATO]] intervening to stop violence.

On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, ending centuries of Serbian rule over the majority Albanian population. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/world/europe/18kosovo.html?ex=1360990800&en=579b01366cbc2ea5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Kosovo Declares Its independence From Serbia]</ref>

On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, ending centuries of Serbian rule over the majority Albanian population. <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/18/world/europe/18kosovo.html?ex=1360990800&en=579b01366cbc2ea5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Kosovo Declares Its independence From Serbia]</ref>