Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence
The Relationship with Serbia Enters a New Era
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(Excerpted From International Debates, March 2008)
On February 17, 2008, Kosovo — a poor, predominantly Muslim region of the former Yugoslavia — declared its independence from Serbia. The move marked a turning point in a long and bloody struggle for self-determination that escalated after Yugoslavia’s collapse and the death of its communist ruler, Josip Broz Tito, in 1980.
Kosovo’s population of 2 million is 90 percent ethnic Albanian and 6 percent ethnic Serbs. The Albanians do not want to be a part of Serbia, a predominantly Christian Orthodox nation; yet Serbians view Kosovo as their an…
In This Issue
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Foreword
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Kosovo and Serbia
History of the Relationship
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Kosovo Status
Events Leading to the Declaration of Independence
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Kosovo Declaration of Independence
Commitment to Full Implementation of the “Ahtissari Plan”
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Aftermath of the Declaration
The Secretary-General’s Response
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Pro & Con
Should Kosovo Be Recognized As an Independent State?