Kosovo issue:

 

The 1995 Dayton Peace Accords failed to resolve the Kosovo autonomy issue and as a result, helped to create an unresolved conflict between the people of Kosovo and Serbia. In February of 2008, Kosovo’s parliament unanimously declared its independence from Serbia, upsetting Serbians who told Kosovo that their actions are illegal. This situation could ultimately cause another conflict between the regions.

  

Source: www.thruthinmedia.org

 " Kosovo was unresolved question during the time of Tito as it is today. I remember the discussions of my parents when they had to send part of their hard worked money to help Kosovo. Kosovo at the time was the most undeveloped part of the whole Yugoslavia. I also remember stories about nationalism in that area. What actually happened in 1999 is hard to tell, I didn’t pay so much attention and Kosovo as a territory, even the people, don’t mean a lot to me."

- Jelica Francuz, 38

 

Kosovo_Map

 

" This war started in Kosovo and it will end in Kosovo."

The Kosovo Albanian writer, Shkelzen Maliqi

(Balkans, Misha Glenny)

  

 

Bosnia_Kosovo

 

 

 

 

" Kosovo today is closer

to Europe than other countries

in the region of South Eastern Europe."
- Ibrahim Rugova

  


 

 

 

 

 Source:af.mil

 

Newborne_Kosovo

 

 

" Today, this policy of force thinks that it has triumphed by establishing a false state. As long as the Serb people exist, Kosovo will be Serbia."

- Vojislav Kostunica

 

 

US Embassy in Belgrade, by Slobodan Lekic

 

 

 

 

 

Source: b92.net

 

Content:


Sleeping  conflicts

 New conflicts

 Kosovo issue
 

Timeline:
Source: bbc.co.uk

February 2002

- Ibrahim Rugova is elected as president by the Kosovan parliament

 

October  2003

- First direct talks between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian leaders since 1999.

 

February 2005

- Serbian President Boris Tadic visits, promises to defend rights of Serbs in Kosovo.

 

January 2006

President Rugova dies in Pristina He is succeeded in February by Fatmir Sejdiu.

 

February 2006

 - UN-sponsored talks on the future status of Kosovo begin.

 

July 2006

- First direct talks since 1999 between ethnic Serbian and Kosovan leaders on future status of Kosovo take place in Vienna.

 

October  2006

- Voters in a referendum in Serbia approve a new constitution which declares that Kosovo is an integral part of the country.

 

February 2007

- United Nations envoy Martti Ahtisaari unveils a plan to set Kosovo on a path to independence, which is immediately welcomed by Kosovo Albanians and rejected by Serbia.

 

February 2008

- Kosovo declares independence. Serbia says declaration illegal. Europe's major powers and the United States recognise independence.

 

March  2008

- Serb opponents of independence seize a UN courthouse in Mitrovica, and more than 100 people are injured in subsequent clashes with UN and NATO forces. A UN police officer is killed.