Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Sunday, February 17, ending a long chapter in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. Kosovo will be the sixth state carved from the former Serbian-dominated Yugoslav federation since 1991, after Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Montenegro.
Most European countries – led by France, Germany, the UK and Italy – support Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. But some European nations, such as Spain and Slovakia, are divided on the subject, fearing it would encourage separatist movements in their own countries. Washington has, for its own part, assured the Kosovars of its support in their quest for independence.
Serbia responded immediately by calling its mainly Albanian breakaway province a false state and condemning the United States for supporting it. Serbs vow never to give up the territory, in which their history goes back 1,000 years, but which has been a ward of the United Nations for nearly nine years. They can do little to stop it, but their one big-power ally Russia stood by them.
Russia called for U.N. Security Council consultations over the independence declaration.
The Kosovar leadership will have to convince the international community of the state’s political stability. It will also have to address the needs of a population experiencing 45 percent unemployment. Kosovars are hopeful about an eventual Donors’ conference that would help them improve their economic situation.
KOSOVO - SERBIA
Kosovo's parliament approved the province's independence from Serbia in an extraordinary session on Sunday, thereby ending a long chapter in the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
KOSOVO
Almost nine years since NATO went to war to save the province's ethnic Albanian majority from a Serb onslaught, Kosovo is set to declare independence. Here is a chronology of contemporary events in Kosovo.
KOSOVO
Since 1999 and the end of the Belgrade's grip on Kosovo, the number of Serbs living in this Albanian region has fallen. The self-declared independence of Kosovo may only reinforce a sense of exclusion for this minority. (Report: G.Ozan)
KOSOVO
Kosovo and its inhabitants are getting ready for their coming self-proclaimed independence. (Report: L. Rouy)
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KOSOVO
While Belgrade plans to resist the independence of Kosovo, there was a glimmer of moderation as some Serb members of the Kosovo parliament agreed to end a boycott. (Report: G.Cragg)
KOSOVO - SERBIA
Bulgaria, Hungary and Croatia became Serbia's first neighbours to recognise the state of Kosovo, bringing the total to 32 nations. (Report: A.Roy)
WEB NEWS
As clashes between UN police and Serb protesters underscore the political standoff in northern Kosovo, the Serb minority is leading its struggle on the Web to resist the province's self-proclaimed independence.
SERBIA - KOSOVO
Twenty French soldiers serving in a NATO-led force in Kosovo have been wounded, eight of them seriously, during clashes Monday in the northern town of Mitrovica. Watch FRANCE 24's analysis.
KOSOVO
Russian deputy prime minister and presidential hopeful Dimitri Medvedev is on his way to Belgrade to reaffirm Russia's support of Serbia's sovereignty over Kosovo. Laurent Rouy reports from Belgrade.
KOSOVO - SERBIA
Serb protesters broke into and torched the US embassy in Belgrade. An unidentified charred body was found in the premises. The violence drew swift condemnation from Washington and the UN Security Council.
KOSOVO - INDEPENDENCE
The chief of the NATO-led peacekeeping force has blamed Serb leaders in Kosovo for attacks on border posts on Tuesday. The crossings re-opened on Wednesday (Story: T. Adamson-Coumbousis & K. Williams).
KOSOVO - INDEPENDENCE
NATO peacekeepers sealed Kosovo's northern borders after Serb demonstrators set border posts ablaze in protest at Kosovo's independence. EU's top diplomat Javier Solana arrived in Pristina on Tuesday. (Report: F. Berruyer)
KOSOVO - INDEPENDENCE
Serb demonstrators set border posts ablaze in protest at Kosovo's independence as EU's top diplomat Javier Solana arrived in Pristina on Tuesday.(Report: O.Fairclough)
KOSOVO - INDEPENDENCE
US President George W. Bush on Tuesday recognised the independence of Kosovo from Serbia and said the US will establish full diplomatic relations with the majority Albanian country. (Report: C.Casali)
KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE
The support for an independent Kosovo gains momentum around the world as the US and key EU states recognise Sunday's declaration of independence.
KOSOVO - SERBIA
Kosovo's parliament approved the province's independence from Serbia in an extraordinary session on Sunday, thereby ending a long chapter in the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
KOSOVO - REPORT
As the world awaits the declaration of Kosovo's independence, Serbs in the village of Mitrovica feel betrayed by Europe and are worried about the future. (Report: F. Berruyer)
KOSOVO - SERBIA
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci confirmed that the Serbian province will declare independence on Sunday as the European Union launches a mission to help ease the transition.
KOSOVO - SERBIA
European Union nations prepared Friday to launch a justice mission to smooth Kosovo's transition to independence but struggled to agree on how to recognise the new state.
KOSOVO
Since 1999 and the end of the Belgrade's grip on Kosovo, the number of Serbs living in this Albanian region has fallen. The self-declared independence of Kosovo may only reinforce a sense of exclusion for this minority. (Report: G.Ozan)
KOSOVO - SERBIA
Serbia has threatened to close the borders if Kosovo declares its independence. But how realistic is that? (Report: L.Rouy)
KOSOVO
Kosovo and its inhabitants are getting ready for their coming self-proclaimed independence. (Report: L. Rouy)
KOSOVO - SERBIA
Boris Tadic vowed to maintain Serbia's sovereignty over Kosovo as he was sworn in as Serbian president on Friday. For his part, Kosovo's PM Hashim Thaci refused to confirm Kosovo's independence date.
SERBIA - KOSOVO
The UN Security Council is holding a meeting on plans by Kosovo to declare unilateral independence. Serbia announced it will use all means to stop the province from seceding, but will not resort to violence.
KOSOVO - SERBIA
A blast which caused no injuries, went off near a building housing the advance team for the EU mission in the divided Kosovar town Mitrovica, where both Serbs and Albanians live, the police said. Kosovo is set to declare independence within days.
