Kosovo Status Process

Kosovo Status Process

During and after the breakup of Yugoslavia there were increasing ethnic and regional conflicts, culminating in the Kosovo War of 1999. The result of that war was the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, an agreement reached between the FR Yugoslavia and NATO. This led to the initiation of a Kosovo status process in 2005.

By 2007, a plan had been formulated by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari. While the plan was accepted by the local government in Kosovo and backed by the United States and the European Union, it was strongly opposed by Serbia and Russia, Serbia's traditional ally. Various UN-facilitated attempts to negotiate an agreement left Kosovo's status unresolved.

Supported by the USA and some European countries, the Kosovo government on 17 February 2008 declared independence from Serbia. Kosovo's current political status is uncertain; the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and most of the European Union and the United Nations have recognized its independence. Of the international organizations, Kosovo is a part of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

New negotiations between Serbia and the Kosovar Albanians started on March 8, 2011 with the EU as a mediator and full backing of the UN. Among the main issues, the parties will discuss on regional cooperation, freedom of movement, and the rule of law. The first round involved the discussion on telecommunications, mobility, civil register, and CEFTA issues.

Western support for Kosovo's declaration of independence had involved supervision by an "International Civilian Office". That office was wound up in September 2012, although there are still some other forms of international transitional support, including EULEX.