Republic of Kosova
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged with 20th century history of Kosovo#The_1990s. (Discuss) Proposed since April 2008. |
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Republic of Kosova Republika e Kosovës | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–2008 | |||||||||
 Flag | |||||||||
| Anthem: Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar ("United around the Flag") | |||||||||
| File:KSA Kosovo.png | |||||||||
| Status | Independent State | ||||||||
| Capital | Prishtina | ||||||||
| Common languages | Albanian English | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1990–1991 | Jusuf Zejnullahu | ||||||||
• 1991–2000 | Bujar Bukoshi | ||||||||
• 1999–2000 | Hashim Thaçi | ||||||||
| Historical era | Yugoslav wars | ||||||||
• Established | 1990 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | February 14, 2008 2008 | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• | 2.3 million | ||||||||
| |||||||||
The Republic of Kosova (Albanian: Republika e Kosovës) was a state proclaimed in 1991 by a parallel parliament representing the Albanian population of Kosovo. During its peak it tried to established its own parallel political institutions in opposition to the Serb-dominated institutions of the Province of Kosovo .
The Republic of Kosova was formally disbanded in 2007 when its institutions were replaced since talks for proper Independence came about. During its lifetime, the Republic of Kosova was only recognized by Albania[citation needed].
History
Independence of the Republic of Kosova
The Province of Kosova was established in 1974 with a high degree of autonomy within the Socialist Republic of Serbia. This autonomy was curtailed by constitutional amendments in 1989, resulting in mass protests by Kosovar Albanians, many of whom were arrested by the then-Yugoslav authorities. This resulted in a declaration of a state of emergency in February 1990 and the resignation of the Provincial Council of Ministers in May.
In response to this political crisis, the ethnic Albanian dominated Provincial Assembly proposed that Kosova be elevated to a Republic within the Yugoslav Federation. This prompted the dissolution of the Assembly by the Serbian Government and assertion of direct control over Kosova's institutions.
Albanian members of the now officially dissolved Kosova Assembly met in secret in Kacanik and declared a constituent "Republic of Kosova" within Serbia. The assembly went on to declare the "Republic of Kosova" a sovereign and independent state on 22 September 1991. This declaration was endorsed by an official referendum held a few days later.[1]
Parallel structures
Kosovo Albanians organized a non-violent separatist movement, employing widespread civil disobedience and creation of parallel structures in education, medical care, and taxation.[2] The Kosova Liberation Army was founded during this period and would begin a guerrilla campaign against the Serbian authorities in Kosova.[when?][citation needed]
NATO intervention and disestablishment
The KLA led guerrilla campaign continued into January 1999 and was brought to the attention of the world media by heavy casualties in the village of Racak (Racak incident). An international conference was held in Rambouillet, France later that spring and resulted in a proposed peace agreement (the Rambouillet Agreement) which was accepted by the ethnic Albanian side but rejected by the Yugoslav Government.
The failure of the talks at Rambouillet resulted in a NATO air campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia lasting from 24 March to 11 June when the Albanian authorities signed a military technical agreement allowing NATO peacekeepers to enter Kosova.
Political leaders [3]
President
- Ibrahim Rugova 1992-2000
Prime Ministers
- Jusuf Zejnullahu 1990-1991
- Bujar Bukoshi 1991-2000
- Hashim Thaçi 1999-2000 (in opposition)
See also
References
- ^ http://www.ciaonet.org/wps/sir01/
- ^ Clark, Howard. Civil Resistance in Kosovo. London: Pluto Press, 2000. ISBN 0745315690
- ^ Serbia