Kosovo

The Kosovo War began on March 5, 1998, when Serbian forces launched a brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanians, who were seeking independence for Kosovo. The conflict was marked by widespread atrocities, including ethnic cleansing operations by Serbian and Yugoslav military and police forces against the Albanian population. The escalation in violence prompted an international response and ultimately led to NATO's intervention. The war resulted in extensive human rights violations, a humanitarian crisis with thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons, and significant international diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. It lasted over a year, involving many failed negotiations before NATO's military action.

The Kosovo War, which started in 1998, came to an end on June 10, 1999, when the United Nations passed Security Council Resolution 1244. This resolution authorized an international civil and military presence in Kosovo, effectively ending Serbian control over the region. NATO had intervened in March 1999 with a bombing campaign against Serb forces, precipitated by the humanitarian crisis and reported atrocities by Serb troops against Kosovar Albanians. The conflict led to significant displacement and casualties. The conclusion of the war paved the way for the establishment of UNMIK (United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) to oversee the development of a political process for ultimate settlement of Kosovo's status.

On November 17, 2001, Kosovo held its first parliamentary elections since the end of the Kosovo War. It was organized by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to facilitate self-governance as part of the transition to peace. Ibrahim Rugova's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won the largest share of votes, reflecting popular support for his non-violent resistance approach during the conflict. The elections marked a crucial step in establishing democratic institutions and processes in Kosovo and were generally considered free and fair by international observers. The successful conduct of the elections helped to stabilize the region and improve prospects for future development.

The 2004 unrest in Kosovo began on March 17, following a series of violent incidents that highlighted the remaining ethnic tensions between Albanians and Serbs. Sparked by claims that Serb groups had caused the deaths of Albanian children, widespread violence erupted, leading to the deaths of 19 people, displacement of approximately 4,000 ethnic Serbs, and destruction of Serbian Orthodox churches and cultural sites. The violence underscored the fragility of peace and the challenges faced by UNMIK and KFOR in stabilizing and securing the region. It prompted international calls for renewed dialogue and efforts to build trust between communities.

On February 17, 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. The declaration was adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo through a vote. This marked a significant moment in Kosovo's history, as it claimed statehood years after the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo War (1998–1999), which brought about a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia to stop the ethnic conflicts. Serbia, however, did not recognize Kosovo's independence, and this has remained a point of contention in international politics. Several countries, including the United States and many EU states, recognized Kosovo, while others, like Russia and China, did not. The declaration led to ongoing disputes and negotiations over political status and international recognition.

On July 22, 2010, the International Court of Justice rendered its advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence. The ICJ concluded that the declaration did not violate international law because international law did not explicitly prohibit declarations of independence. This opinion was sought by Serbia following the controversial declaration of independence by Kosovo in 2008. While the ruling did not settle the issue of Kosovo's status, it was seen as a political victory for Kosovo's independence movement, reinforcing the legitimacy of its statehood claims in the eyes of those countries that had already recognized it as a sovereign state. However, the opinion did not compel any countries to recognize Kosovo.

On July 27, 2011, a conflict erupted around the border crossings between Kosovo and Serbia, located at Jarinje and Brnjak. The clashes occurred following Kosovo's government's decision to enforce a trade embargo against Serbia in retaliation for Serbia's continued non-recognition of Kosovo's independence. Kosovo police attempted to take control of the customs points, which led to violent confrontations, including the burning of a border post by Serb protesters. These events underscored ongoing tensions and the challenge of integrating northern Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Serbs, into the rest of the country. The European Union stepped in to mediate and de-escalate the situation.

The Brussels Agreement, reached on April 19, 2013, was a significant step in the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Facilitated by the European Union, the agreement aimed at easing tensions and improving cooperation on governance, security, and representation of Serb communities in Kosovo. It called for the integration of Serb-majority municipalities into the Kosovo legal system and laid out commitments for both parties to not block each other’s EU accession paths. The deal was seen as historic as it marked the first time Serbia had formally agreed to terms regarding the governance of Kosovo since the 2008 independence declaration.

By November 1, 2015, Kosovo had received diplomatic recognition from 100 sovereign states, marking a significant milestone in its journey to international acceptance and integration. This recognition came despite Serbia's ongoing opposition and was viewed as a testament to Kosovo's diplomatic efforts and the support from key allies. The recognition helped Kosovo in its aspirations to join international organizations and bolstered its statehood claims. Nonetheless, the process of gaining admission to the United Nations and the European Union remained contested due to the veto power of non-recognizing countries like Russia and China.

The parliamentary elections held on October 6, 2019, were a significant political event for Kosovo, marking a shift towards new leadership. Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) movement won the largest number of seats, indicating a desire for change by the electorate. The election was triggered after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned due to being summoned for questioning by a Hague-based war crimes tribunal. The results reflected widespread discontent with corruption, economic stagnation, and the status quo. The elections were generally considered fair and transparent, with high voter turnout demonstrating the population's engagement in shaping Kosovo's political future.