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2013 Frozen Conflicts Kosovo

This document summarizes the history of conflict in Kosovo, beginning with its status within Yugoslavia and autonomy within Serbia. It describes the rise of nationalist tensions in the late 1980s and 1990s that led to Kosovo declaring independence in 2008. However, Kosovo's status remains disputed as Serbia does not recognize its independence. The future remains uncertain as long as sovereignty issues are unresolved.

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Luca Capri
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47 views11 pages

2013 Frozen Conflicts Kosovo

This document summarizes the history of conflict in Kosovo, beginning with its status within Yugoslavia and autonomy within Serbia. It describes the rise of nationalist tensions in the late 1980s and 1990s that led to Kosovo declaring independence in 2008. However, Kosovo's status remains disputed as Serbia does not recognize its independence. The future remains uncertain as long as sovereignty issues are unresolved.

Uploaded by

Luca Capri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kosovo: A Frozen Conflict?

Dr. Robert M Jenkins


Director, UNC Center for Slavic, Eurasian
and East European Studies

North Carolina Council for the Social Studies


March 1, 2013
Yugoslavia Parallels
• Territorial
Divisions
– 6 Republics
– 2 Autonomous
provinces
• Nations &
nationalities
Kosovo-Serbia Dynamics
• 1974 Constitution –
autonomous rights
• 1974, 1981 –
nationalist
demonstrations
• 1982-86 – Serb
counter-mobilization
• 1987 – Rise to power
of Slobodan Milošević
Kosovar Responses
• 1989 – Serbian revocation of Kosovo
Autonomy
• 1990-92 – nonviolent resistance & parallel
state
• 1993-95 – development of Kosovo Liberation
Army (KLA)
• 1998-99 – KLA guerrilla attacks & Serbian
government counter-insurgency
International Attention
• Oct 1998, international
community intervention &
Serbia agreement (UN SC,
NATO, US Amb. Holbrooke,
OSCE) lead to Kosovo
Verification Mission (KVM)
• Feb & Mar 1999, Rambouillet
negotiations fail
• Mar-Jun 1999, 78-day NATO
bombing campaign
Foundation of Freeze
UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (June 10,
1999)
• Conditions for Serbian withdrawal
• United Nations administration (UNMIK)
• International security presence (KFOR)
• Unresolved political status:
– Sovereignty of Serbia recognized
– Institutions of self-government to be developed
Ethnic Distribution
Post-Conflict Developments
• 2000-01 – Development of self-government:
local councils, Kosovo Assembly
• Mar 2004 – Outbreak of ethnic violence
• Feb-Oct 2006 – Status negotiations under UN
auspices result in deadlock
• Feb 2007 – UN Special Envoy Maarti Ahtisaari
proposes plan of supervised independence;
rejected by Serbia & Russian Federation
Kosovo Independence
• Aug-Dec 2007,
further negotiations
produce no new
results
• Feb 17, 2008, Kosovo
Assembly declares
independence
• Initial recognition
from US & 22 of 27
EU states; rejection
by Serbia & allies
Post-Independence Dynamics
• EU Rule of Law Mission
– EULEX
• Continued KFOR
presence
• July 2010 -- ICJ ruling on
independence
• July 2011 violence
• EU mediated “Dialogue”
Future Thaw?
• Question of independence continues to divide
– Serbia refuses to recognize independence
– Kosovo has recognition of 98 states
• EU enlargement dynamic presents future
hope
– Mar 2012 – Serbia granted candidate status
– Kosovo remains potential candidate
• Future remains full of uncertainty –
sovereignty remains disputed

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