Kosovo

Why in news?

• Violent clashes have taken place in Kosovo between ethnic Serbs and police belonging to the Albanian-led government.

About Kosovo:

• Kosovo is a small, landlocked country in the Balkans in southern-eastern Europe.
• It shares borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.
• Kosovo has a population of 1.8 million people, with 92% Albanians, 6% Serbians, and the rest comprising Bosniaks, Gorans, Turks, and Roma.

Kosovo’s Independence:

• After the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Kosovo sought autonomy and independence. Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown against ethnic Albanians seeking independence.
• NATO conducted a bombing campaign against Serbia in 1999, resulting in Serbian forces withdrawing from Kosovo.
• The NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFor) is still present in Kosovo, with around 3,762 troops.
• In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence.
• 99 out of 193 UN countries recognize Kosovo's independence, including the US, UK, and 22 EU countries. However, Russia and China have blocked Kosovo's UN membership.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following countries:

1. Macedonia

2. Albania

3. Serbia

4. Romania

5. Hungary

How many of the countries shares borders with Kosovo?

(a) Only one

(b) Only three

(c) Only five

(d) Only six

Answer