Republic of Kosova
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Kosova was an secessionist state proclaimed in 1991 by a parallel parliament representing the Albanian
population of Kosovo
, recognized only by the Republic of Albania. During its peak, it tried to establish its own parallel political institutions in opposition to the institutions of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija
which were installed by Belgrade
.
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 Kosovo 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 Kosovo's institutions.
Ethnic Albanian members of the now officially dissolved Kosovo Assembly met in secret in Kačanik
and declared a constituent "Republic of Kosova" within Yugoslavia. 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 unofficial referendum held a few days later.
). 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 Yugoslav authorities signed a military technical agreement allowing NATO peacekeepers (KFOR) and an international civilian mission (UNMIK) to enter Kosovo.
UNMIK assumed executive, legislative and judicial control of Kosovo and exercised this through a Special Representative of the Secretary General. A Kosovo Transitional Council was established to enable Kosovo political and community leaders were represented in decisions. The KLA was disbanded and replaced by the Kosovo Protection Corps
, a lightly armed civilian emergency response organization.
The Republic of Kosova was formally abolished when its institutions were replaced by the institutions of the Joint Interim Administrative Structure
established by UNMIK.
Photos by Michael Kerjman , a neutral UN participant in international reviving activities illustrate reality of Kosovo-99 .
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
population of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, recognized only by the Republic of Albania. During its peak, it tried to establish its own parallel political institutions in opposition to the institutions of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija
Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1990-1999)
The Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija comprises the territory of Kosovo within the Republic of Serbia. From April 1992, Serbia itself formed an integral part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
which were installed by Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
Proclamation of the Republic of Kosova
The Socialist Autonomous Province of KosovoSocialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo
Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo was one of the two socialist autonomous areas of the Socialist Republic of Serbia incorporated into the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1974 until 1990...
was established in 1974 with a high degree of autonomy within the Socialist Republic of Serbia
Socialist Republic of Serbia
Socialist Republic of Serbia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is a predecessor of modern day Serbia, which served as the biggest republic in the Yugoslav federation and held the largest population of all the Yugoslav...
. 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 Kosovo 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 Kosovo's institutions.
Ethnic Albanian members of the now officially dissolved Kosovo Assembly met in secret in Kačanik
Kacanik
Kačanik or Kaçanik is a town and municipality in southern Kosovo, in the Uroševac district. The municipality covers an area of , including the town of Kačanik and 31 villages. It has a population of approximately 33,454...
and declared a constituent "Republic of Kosova" within Yugoslavia. 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 unofficial referendum held a few days later.
Parallel structures
Kosovo Albanians organized a peaceful separatist movement, creating a number of parallel structures in education, medical care, and taxation.NATO intervention and disestablishment
The KLA-led campaign continued into January 1999 and was brought to the attention of the world media by heavy casualties in the village of Racak (Račak incidentRacak incident
Operation Račak , also known as the Račak Massacre , "The Račak Incident", "The Račak case" and "The Račak Hoax" of 15 January 1999 was the killing of 45 Kosovo Albanians in the village of Račak by either combat or murder in central Kosovo...
). An international conference was held in Rambouillet
Rambouillet
Rambouillet is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France.It is located in the suburbs of Paris southwest from the center...
, France later that spring and resulted in a proposed peace agreement (the Rambouillet Agreement
Rambouillet Agreement
The Rambouillet Agreement is the name of a proposed peace agreement between then-Yugoslavia and a delegation representing the ethnic-Albanian majority population of Kosovo. It was drafted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and named for Chateau Rambouillet, where it was initially proposed...
) 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 Yugoslav authorities signed a military technical agreement allowing NATO peacekeepers (KFOR) and an international civilian mission (UNMIK) to enter Kosovo.
UNMIK assumed executive, legislative and judicial control of Kosovo and exercised this through a Special Representative of the Secretary General. A Kosovo Transitional Council was established to enable Kosovo political and community leaders were represented in decisions. The KLA was disbanded and replaced by the Kosovo Protection Corps
Kosovo Protection Corps
The Kosovo Protection Corps was a civilian emergency services organisation in Kosovo active from 1999 to 2009.The KPC was created on September 21, 1999 through the promulgation of UNMIK Regulation 1999/8 and the agreement of a "Statement of Principles" on the KPC's permitted role in Kosovo...
, a lightly armed civilian emergency response organization.
The Republic of Kosova was formally abolished when its institutions were replaced by the institutions of the Joint Interim Administrative Structure
Joint Interim Administrative Structure
The Joint Interim Administrative Structure was an interim administrative body in Kosovo, established in May 2000 by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo...
established by UNMIK.
Photos by Michael Kerjman , a neutral UN participant in international reviving activities illustrate reality of Kosovo-99 .
External links
- First Constitution of the Republic of Kosova