Kosovo

Kosovo is variously an independent country in southeastern Europe - the Republic of Kosovo; or, a province of Serbia, known as the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. Kosovo made a unilateral declaration of independence on 17th February, 2008. The declaration of independence followed failure at the Security Council of the United Nations to successfully negotiate for Kosovan independence from Serbia. The United States, the United Kingdom and others supported independence from Serbia, but it was opposed by Russia, which held a veto. As the declaration of independence is not recognised by the United Nations, countries must decide individually whether they will recognise the state. The declaration, read by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci in the Kosovan parliament, said Kosovo would be a democratic country that respected the rights of all ethnic communities.

The population of Kosovo is approximately two million, the majority of whom are ethnic Albanians. The capital is Priština. Kosovo is heavily reliant on European Union aid, and since 1999 has been under the administration of the United Nations, with security provided by KFOR, an international peace-keeping force.