Difference between revisions of "Kosovo"
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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 | + | 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> | ||
Revision as of 00:51, February 24, 2008
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-Albanian, a stark contrast to the rest of the population of Serbia.
Kosovo was once an almost totally Serbian land. Under the long Ottoman rule, the land became more and more inhabited by Albanian migrants. The 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.[1] Enver Hoxha, the 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.[2]
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. [3]
Further reading
- Clinton Wag the Dog -- No Kosovo Genocide, German Foreign Office Report, January 6, 1999.
References
- ↑ Serbs fear losing soul of their nation in Kosovo
- ↑ BEATING SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES: Reintegration of Former Combatants in Kosovo, United Nations Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Resource Centre
- ↑ Kosovo Declares Its independence From Serbia