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History of Kosovo, the Bloody Diamond: Serbian land or Albanian?
by Vuk Vukovic (Director, European Heritage Library)

Print this Article    •    About the Author    •    Bibliography/Sources

This article is primarily written from the Serbian perspective. Read my article on the 460-year struggle for an Albanian homeland, and 540 for Kosovo to gain a fair and full understanding of the Albanian perspective on the Kosovo conflict. Also consider that the Albanians insist that their ancient Illyrian ancestors lived in Kosovo long before the Slavic Serbs, although most historians and archeologists have rejected the link between the Illyrians and the Albanians. As a result, even an analysis about the early history of the region is bitterly disputed by the other ethnic group's perspective. The below essay illustrates the integral role that Kosovo has played in Serbian national heritage, a key source of their claim to the region.

General facts

Kosovo and Metohia is a landlocked region in the Balkan Peninsula, surrounded by Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro. It comprises several areas that have been since prehistoric times culturally and geographically separated. The whole area of Kosovo and Metohia totals 10.887 km2. Kosovo in Serbian means “field of the blackbird”, and Metohia signifies “church property”. The word “blackbird” is found in many names of places inhabited by Slavs. The reason why one part of it is called Metohia, “church property”, is because much of this land was indeed Christian church property, now in a Muslim independent breakaway republic. Kosovo is a site with many ancient Orthodox monasteries. Encircled by mountains, the region still has natural passages that are important transportation crossroads between East and West. Metohia basin is in the western part of the region, while fertile plains of Kosovo are in the east. Climate is continental, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The largest cities are Pristina, which is the capital, followed by Prizren, Pec and Kosovska Mitrovica. Albanian Muslims are a predominant ethnic group, followed by Serbs, and other ethnic minorities (for more detail, read Demographics of Kosovo section). It has been a region of centuries-long conflicts, and still is, Europe's bloody diamond.

Note that the United Nations has not universally acknowledged the establishment of an independent Kosovo, and thus to many its statehood is illegitimate under international law and relations. The main supporter of Kosovar independence is the United States, which was primarily responsible for the bombing of the Yugoslav state to protect Albanian rebels from mutual ethnic cleansing.

A map of the LEGAL Kosovo (as opposed to "Greater Kosovo" that nationalists seek)

History

Prehistory -- Paleolithic and Mesolithic

There has been little archeological research in Kosovo, so it is possible that there may be more Paleolithic and Mesolithic sites. The region of Kosovo has strong ties with the Morava region and with Mid- and Lower Danube region, as well as with cultures of Thessaloniki, Thrace, Romania and the Aegean. The site of Pecina is considered to be a Paleolithic site.

Neolithic

The Neolithic era lasted from 6000 to 3500 BC. Quite a few sites have been found that date from this era, such as settlements of Starcevo and of the ancient Vinca culture. The long development of the Vinca culture in Kosovo is reflected, primarily in exceptional achievements of spiritual culture and art. Magnificent anthropomorphic figurines are counted among the most beautiful examples of prehistoric plastic art in Europe. The Vinca culture is largely considered to be the oldest functional civilization in the world (and with the oldest form of writing), although it could hardly be described as a unified political organ like the later Egyptian and Mesopotamian states. Originating at a time of violent influx of cultural groups from the West, and familiarization with copper, they simultaneously reflect both fear and the need to uphold a millenium of tradition.

The Bronze Age

Not much of Bronze Age culture is documented, perhaps because Bronze Age cultures developed primarily in areas of great rivers. However, there is significant influence of Mycenaean Greek culture, which can be observed in customs of burial, as well as shapes of daggers and swords. The region was peaceful, being encircled by mountains, and the unrest caused by great movements of peoples, did not disturb the region of Kosovo. This was obviously favorable for the Mycenaean culture. The proximity of Albania (Illyria) to Italy and the Adriatic, both largely populated by Greek colonists in early history, implies that the early coastal region was probably heavily populated by Greeks and Italic peoples.

The Iron Age

The region became dynamic in the Bronze Age. The downfall of the Mycenaean culture is followed by a quiet period, until 8th century BC, when Greece established contact with continental Europe via this region. Ceramics and costly metals reflect the influence of the Hellenic culture on the area. The Pomoravlje (region northeast of Kosovo) culture, which, by erecting artificial strongholds at several places in Kosovo, established control over the region, had indisputable role in the ethnogenesis of Dardanians.

The Period of Antiquity

The region of Kosovo was known as Dardania and was ruled by Illyrians and other by peoples related to Dacians and Thracians. The ethnic origin of the Thracians and their related tribes is uncertain. Their homeland was in Thrace, today split between Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece, where they founded a disunified but magnificent ancient culture as old as Egypt that was rich in gold technology on par with today's laser-etched jewelry. Most historians agree that the Thracians, having come out of pre-Turkish Anatolia, were ethnically Iranian. Many Iranian (Persian) words have entered Albanian and other South Slavic languages because of this, some believe. Dardania spread from the present-day western border of Kosovo to Bulgaria and Romania, and was known for abundant ore resources. Until emperor Tiberius (42-37 AD), the region was not under direct Roman control. Famous for its brutal and talented Illyrian pirates under Queen Teuta, the state of Illyria (today's Albania) got into much conflict with the early Roman state, and was crushed several times in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE during the Punic War era. The Roman province of Moesia Superior covered present-day Serbia and Kosovo, while Metohia was in the province of Dalmatia. Dardanians were known as fierce and tough warriors, but at the same time, great musicians. They were well versed in string instruments and flute. However, they disappeared due to inability to adapt to Roman ways and customs. They left few traces of their culture. Romans started colonizing and settling the region in 1st and 2nd century AD. The first locations to be colonized were places with abundant ore resources. The settlers were rural aristocracy, small animal breeders, miners, merchants, and, later, artisans. There were numerous settlements, notably along the Beli Drim River. Roads are mostly hidden under contemporary roads. The spiritual life of the local population was complex. There are traces of Hellenic religion and Eastern religions, Roman state religion as well as religions of indigenous Balkan peoples. The majority of worshipped gods are from the Roman pantheon. Greek gods were rare. Occasional domestic gods show that the original population had, more or less, preserved their identity. The Balkan region was among the first ones to be Christianized. Apostle Paul and his disciples “baptized” the region themselves. The Roman province of Dalmatia was among the first to be Christianized. As the Roman Empire started collapsing under the weight of Turkic and German barbarian attacks, the region of Kosovo was not significantly disturbed, in spite of all the fluctuations and migrations. The barbarian tribes have most probably come across this region. However, no sources indicate that any towns have been destroyed. The attacks and the unrest stopped in late 5th century, when Goths left to Italy under the leadership of Theodoric. In early 6th century, great numbers of Slavic tribes inhabit the region, as Byzantine Empire pulls out of the Danube Limes, leaving the way open to the Slavs coming from the northeast.

Middle Ages

The Slavs inhabited this region as they were migrating to the Balkans in general. The oldest Slavic/Serbian funeral mounds (called “gromila”) are found in Raska, a region bordering Kosovo to the northeast. Undoubtedly, the Slavs inhabited Kosovo in great masses, as many Slavic toponyms prove. Names of rivers, mountains are of Slavic origins. This is supported by archaeological findings in region of Kosovo, as well as present-day Macedonia and Albania. The entire territory of Albania is covered by Slavic toponyms or toponyms of Slavic origin. In 7th and 8th centuries, Slavs inhabited most of today’s Albania. The hilly and mountainous quality of Albania implies that, historically, indigenous or distinct populations were able to survive whilst the mainland of Albania became settled and conquered by foreign cultures and powers. The Slavs built settlements in plains and along river basins, as well as the shore of the Adriatic Sea. In general, such places that were convenient for living.

According to Byzantine emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenit, Serbian princedoms were established in Kosovo, Metohia and surrounding areas; he also noted that they moved there during the reign of emperor Heraclius (610-641). In the 9th century, the Bulgarians progress and expand their empire with an intention of including Byzantine territories in their state. In the process, they conquered Macedonia and Kosovo with its Serb population. The Bulgarian empire reached its peak with the emperor Samuil, who after the defeat of 997, managed to conquer Drac (city 33 kilometers south of Tirana, the capital of Albania), Raska, and Zeta (a region in Montenegro). Until 1014, more precisely until Samuil’s death, Kosovo is ruled by Bulgarians and Byzantium. Shortly after, the Bulgarian empire enters a period of deep crisis, and at this time Metohia is a part of Serbian Raska, with Hvosno and Destinik as episcopal seats. By the end of 1018, the Byzantine Empire conquers almost the entire Bulgarian state, including Kosovo. Serbian prince Vukan, a predecessor of the royal house of Nemanjic, battled the Byzantine emperor Alexius I. Vukan died, and failed to completely conquer Kosovo. Shortly after this series of events, the royal house of Nemanjic rises and begins the expansion of the Serbian state. The head of the family, Nemanja (pronounced Nemanya – just so you can know – it shouldn’t be in the article), tries to break free from the Byzantine rule (Serbia was a Byzantine vassal at this point in time), and is supported by Hungary and Venice; however, he loses a decisive battle and doesn’t end the status quo. But, as Byzantium engages in a war with Hungary, Nemanja chooses the moment to strike the Byzantines while they were fighting a much bigger war, and succeeds in liberating Eastern Kosovo, thus liberating the entire region and the Serbian population. Later on, he advances and includes the whole region in the Serbian state, together with some southern regions. Reign over Kosovo significantly strengthened the economy of the early Serbian state.

From that point on to the invasion by the Muslim Turks, Kosovo is the heart of the Serbian medieval state. Important cities and towns are built; the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church is in Pec; various rulers built their castles in Kosovo; important strongholds are built to ensure the safety of the people.

The Rise and fall of the Serbian Empire

The Serbian medieval state reached its peak under the emperor Dusan (pronounced Dushan). It included areas of present-day Albania, Greece and Bulgaria. However, Dusan dies and the Serbian cosmopolitan empire starts to crumble, never managing to replace Byzantium. The country is divided into many provinces. Regional lords all claimed the right to be the emperor of the whole country, but no one succeeded. This disunity is what caused Serbia to be conquered. Kosovo is also divided between three lords; however, later, it will be under the rule of one of them.

The Last Stand: 1389 Battle of Kosovo

In the spring of 1389, Turkish sultan Murad I with his sons Beyazid and Jacub passed through lands of Serbian vassals and reached Kosovo with an army of 40,000 soldiers. At that time, prince Lazar is the ruler of the Serbian state, now significantly smaller, as the Turks kept on advancing and taking away pieces of land. He is a Serbian noble, son of a councilor of emperor Dusan. He was appointed to be a prince by the last Serbian emperor with almost no real power, Uros. After the emperor died, Lazar consolidated his power and emerged as a very energetic leader. However, the belief was that no one could rule the country if he was not from the family of Nemanjic, who was considered sacred. Therefore, the ceremonial title of king of Serbia was bore by Bosnian ruler Tvrtko I Kotromanic, whose heritage was linked more strongly to the Nemanjic family than Lazar’s was. In assembling an army to defend Serbia against an invasion, Lazar got help from Tvrtko, as well as Croatian princes. Bosnian troops were led by a lord named Vlatko Vukovic, who had many successes in his life. In the epic poetry, it is often told that Turkish troops were so numerous, that the Serbs “couldn’t be salt in their meals”. Almost every male took up arms and went to Kosovo, as Lazar cursed those who wouldn’t. In the Serbian tradition, it is said that before the battle, prophet Elijah appeared on the sky and asked Lazar which empire will he choose: heavenly or earthly. Lazar chose the heavenly as it is “forever and ever”, while the earthly lasts shortly. “We die for Christ, so that we may live forever”, he tells to his soldiers, thus he must perish on the battlefield. As Serbs made such a sacrifice, sometimes they refer to themselves as the Heavenly People, or the Chosen People of the New Testament. Lazar is also a saint in the Serbian Orthodox Church. Armies clashed on June 28, a great holiday in Serbian tradition. There was no clear outcome as both armies were devastated and both rulers dead. A Serbian knight, Milos Obilic, fought his way through the Turkish lines and reached the sultan. He pretended to be surrendering to him. When the sultan asked Milos to kiss his feet as a sign of obedience, Milos refused and pulled out a hidden dagger, severely stabbing the sultan. Murad died minutes later. His son, Beyazid, killed his brother Jacub, in order to secure the throne for himself. Milos was beheaded. Prince Lazar was captured amidst the battle and beheaded. However, the Turkish army might be considered a victor, due to its ability to rebuild its army faster and move on. The devastation of the Serbian army meant the devastation of its male population. It took decades for Serbia to rebuild itself. However, it fell under full Turkish Muslim rule in 1456, three years after Constantinople fell. The tradition of Kosovo and its tale lived on in the collective consciousness of the Serbian people, and its liberation was a primary goal in all the uprisings during the Ottoman occupation. When Serbia fell to the Muslims, so fell the Christian Kosovo that it ruled.

The Ottoman Empire and the occupation of Balkans

In 1396, the Turks occupied Kosovo. It was ruled, though, by Serbian lords who were Turkish vassals. In 1448, a Christian coalition was formed to battle the Turks once again in the so-called Second Battle of Kosovo. However, they faced defeat because the Hungarian, Serbian and Albanian leaders lacked unity. After this period, South-Eastern Europe is gradually conquered piece by piece. Under the rule of Turkish sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, Turks took the whole territory of Kosovo in 1455. During Turkish rule (1459-1912), the region declined economically and culturally. The Turks forced a mass emigration of Orthodox Serbs, as well as frequently mass conversion; they also settled the land with new immigrants of Turkish ethnic origin, from Circassian (Caucasus) populations, etc. A significant event was the reestablishment of the Patriarchate of Pec in the city of Pec. The Patriarch of the times was a brother of one of the Islamized Serbs who ranked highly in the Turkish nobility. This was due to a “tax in blood” – devshirme -Turks took infants from their parents, converted them to Islam and taught them their ways and later sent them off to war, often against their own Christian peoples. The noble, Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic, influenced the sultan, who eventually gave his permission for the Patriarchy to be established. The Turkish Ottomans were a very practical empire in that they would often, after obliterating the armies and leaderships of conquered countries and frequently torching cathedrals and churches (as was common to all armies of the day), they would often create local religious vassals to calm revolt and separatism. It was a political move rather than one of tolerance of the cultures they were conquering without provocation (in the case of Serbia).The conflict of Austria and Turkey in the Austro-Turkish War (1683-1699) brought instability to the region. Serbs, trying to break free from the Turks, sided with the Austrians, who eventually withdrew, leaving the Serbs to the vengeful Turks. The Serbian people of Kosovo decided to migrate to the north, more specifically to parts of Southern Hungary. This event is called The Great Migration.
As Serbs fled the region evading revenge, the Turks decided to resettle the abandoned regions. The immigrants would be Islamized Albanians. The process was intensified in the 19th century. Towards the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire was greatly weakened, partly by numerous national movements, including the Serbian. The First Serbian Revolution of 1804 was the beginning of the Serbian progress towards freedom. The old goal of including Kosovo in the new, free state was pursued. However, in 1878, in Prizren, 300 Albanian representatives formed the “Prizren League”, with an intention of pleading and the Turkish court to give autonomy to all Albanian populated regions. These regions were to be merged into one administrative unit. The Sultan rejected the plead and Albanians revolted, taking most major towns in Kosovo starting in mid-June of 1879.
The Turks managed to regain power in 1881, but the region saw more blood and violence as it sparks again in 1905 and continues to 1912.

The 20th century

The First Balkan War, which started in 1912, was led by Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro against the Ottoman Empire. In it, Kosovo and Metohia were finally set free from the Ottoman occupation. After this, the region witnessed a period of an awakening. The Serbian government had plans for a recolonization of Kosovo, but in 1913, Bulgaria declared war on Serbia, thus starting the Second Balkan War. The war lasted for a few months, and ended with Bulgaria defeated. Yet another war was to hinder the return of the Serbian people to Kosovo: World War I, which was sparked in the Balkans.
In World War One, Kosovo became important once again. The Serbian army was driven to the south by the German advance, which came not very long after a series of victories over Austria-Hungary. The Serbian army stopped at Kosovo and destroyed all their equipment, weapons and everything else they found to be useful to the enemy. This was done because the Serbian army was to retreat through treacherous mountains of Albania, unable to carry all the equipment. Between the two world wars, Kosovo became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, what was later to be known as Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After centuries of oppression, non-Muslim population retrieved their basic rights. Following an accord with Turkey, Turkish population began to emigrate, while recolonization of Orthodox Serbian population intensified. In 1941, occupied Yugoslavia was torn apart and divided among Nazi Germany and it’s allies. Shortly after this, a web of death camps was formed to imprison mostly Jews, Serbs and Roma.

Most of Kosovo and Metohia became part of Nazi Albania, and the remainder came under Bulgarian and German rule. SS division Skenderbeg, composed of ethnic Albanians, massacred the non-Albanian population, mostly Serbs. Tens of thousands of Serbs lost their lives, and around 75,000 Serbs fled from Kosovo during the war. Hundreds of thousands more would leave it after the war. Around 10,000 Serbs died in Albanian camps. Before the surrender of Nazi Italy in 1943, Germany took over control of the region. After guerilla operations of Serb Chetniks and Yugoslav Partisans against the occupation force (as well as against each other), Serbia was liberated in 1944 with the aid of the Red Army, and within it the new Province of Kosovo and Metohia. However, various fractions of the Albanian national movement, at meetings of the Second and the Third Prizren League, and at the Bujan Conference, decided that the province should become part of Albania. This orientation resulted in a continuation of ethnic cleansing of non-Albanian population. Josip Broz Tito’s Communists came to power in Yugoslavia in 1945. Because of ideological reasons, the authorities dealt with rightist movements, so they fought against the remnants of Albanian guerilla fighters. Although this brought some security to the region, the former state was not retained. The Communists banned the emigrants to return to their homes, and have seized the property of the Orthodox Church as well as private property.

Tito’s clash with the Serbian political elite, drastically improved the status of Albanians at the expense of all the other people and ethnicities of Yugoslavia. At the so-called Brioni Plenum in 1966, the unified security system of Yugoslavia was broken and reinstatement of nationalism was covertly allowed. According to 1974 Constitution of Yugoslavia, if any of the six republics wanted to break away, it had the right to do so. Also, Kosovo was set up as a “Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohia”, and had gained some state prerogatives, still remaining a part of Serbia. This was awkward due to the fact that Kosovo was never a separate or a unique region in aspects of governmental duties. It is widely believed that the Yugoslav government did this in order to satisfy Albanian wishes for independence. In the 1970’s, Albanian nationalist and secessionist movements requested a confirmation of Kosovo and Metohia as a different republic within Yugoslavia, while extremists wanted full and unconditional independence. The Yugoslav government offered no permanent solution, which gradually led to a rise of Albanian population from 65% to 80% while Serbian population dropped to 10% percent. This was done through a campaign of ethnic cleansing and segregation of all other non-Albanian population, which further led to a mass emigration to Serbia.

Tito died in 1980, and the federation crumbled. In 1981, Albanian movements clashed with police throughout the province. On the other hand, Yugoslav media were banned from researching and reporting on the violence and the tumult in Kosovo. According to a New York Times report from the early 80’s, “57, 000 Serbs fled Kosovo”; the reasons are harassment, rapes and murders. In 1989, the issue came to light again. Slobodan Milosevic, who had recently become a president of Yugoslavia, went to Kosovo promising Serbs “no one will beat you again.” Also, the authorities have abolished Kosovo’s status of a federal unit, and have returned to the status prior to 1974 Constitution. This angered ethnic Albanians, and the Regional parliament, made up solely of ethnic Albanians proclaimed the province’s independence on July 2, 1990. Shortly after this, a secret meeting in Kacanik was held, where a new Constitution of Kosovo was drafted. The Serbian government responded with series of measures; this resulted in two governmental systems in Kosovo - one, official for all citizens, and the other one, illegal, exclusively Albanian, which covered some education and health care. Shortly after that, the Albanian separatist movement received support from foreign countries. The Albanians received logistical support from Slovenia and Croatia, as well as from a big Albanian narcotic cartel. The actions and intents of the KLA were well known in the political circles. In the early 90’s, Warren Zimmerman, the last US ambassador to Serbia, asked Ibrahim Rugova (deceased Albanian leader) how did the Albanians treat the Serbian population before Milosevic’s rise to power. Rugova answered with no second thought: “Unfortunately, many crimes were committed against the Serbs.”

In January 1992, Albanians in Macedonia proclaimed independence and aspirations towards certain parts of Greece intensified. In late 1995, Albanian extremists form the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army), which was not entirely Albanian, but included volunteer fighters from the Middle East and veterans from Croatia. It also received support from certain NATO countries. The financial support for the KLA came primarily from drugs and arms sales. Many Serbs, non-Albanians were killed or forced into exile in this time period; however, there were some Albanians that died for disobeying to support the KLA and their bloody cause – an ethnically clean and independent Kosovo.

In the response to growing terrorism in the region, Yugoslav government sent a large contingent of security forces to contain it. In the clash, many civilians died, which in a strange way benefited to the KLA. A BBC-2 interview with Hasim Taci, the former leader of the KLA, now prime minister of Kosovo, took place in 2000. In the interview, he admitted: “We were completely aware that each one of our violent actions will cause a harsh response from the Serbs, targeted at our people… We also knew that we are endangering lives of many, many civilians.” A statement of one of the Albanian mediators, Dag Gorani, was also included: “As civilian casualties kept mounting, the chances of an international intervention were growing, and KLA knew that.”

In 1998, a period which is now known as the Kosovo War, civilians died on both sides. In 1999, NATO (basically the United States under Bill Clinton) launched a bombing campaign against Serbia to prevent what they called a “humanitarian catastrophe”. OSCE was not consulted. In the campaign, codenamed “Angel of Mercy”, 3012 Serbian civilians died. In Kosovo, 59% of Serbian population fled, followed by 45% of Albanian population, primary reason being intense bombing, using depleted uranium and cassette bombs (which contain small pieces of metal intended to spread around the bomb site causing immense civilian casualties). The war ended with Milosevic allowing the UN forces to enter Kosovo, thus making it a temporary UN protectorate.

A map of UN, US, and NATO attacks on Serb forces in Kosovo using Depleted Uranium. << Click to enlarge >>

With the arrival of NATO forces, over 300,000 people, mostly Serbs, but also other non-Albanians, left their homes. Some 20,000, mainly from rural areas returned to their homes, while the remainder, living under fear of retributions, are not able to return. Many Serbian homes were burned, and the remaining population lives enclosed in enclaves, mostly in the north of Kosovo. The situation of the Albanian population is better, since they have mostly returned to their homes, beginning to rebuild some extent of normal living. Since the arrival of NATO forces, 156 churches have been destroyed or damaged by Albanian paramilitary organizations. Some of the churches date back to 12th, 13th and 14th century. Harassment, rapes and murders of non-Albanian population were common occurrence. The latest outburst of violence by ethnic Albanians happened on March 17, 2004 in which over 30 Orthodox churches and monasteries, some dating as far back as 12th century, were destroyed, 300 homes were burned and 19 people died. The outburst went almost unnoticed in the international community.


Proclamation of independence

Ethnic Albanians proclaimed independence on February 17th, 2008, encouraged by most of the Western powers. Some of the countries are: United States of America, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Japan, Italy and others. However, Russia and some European countries denied recognizing it, basing it on the fact that it has broken the international law, especially the UN guarantee that sovereignty of member nations is untouchable. Other countries rejected it because they were worried of revolt in their own countries by minorities, like Muslim Azerbaijan of the Armenian Christian minority, China of its Muslim Turkic and Mongol populations in Uyghurstan (East Turkestan), etc. It is a major grievance among Serbs that a foreign body, primarily the United States that gained control of the region after the Kosovo War under Clinton, is able to take sovereign land from sovereign Serbia irregardless of the justification Albanians in Kosovo have for the establishment of their own state. The UN, too, has not recognized Kosovo as an independent country universally. Albanians, on the other hand, celebrated, singing patriotic songs and shouting KLA! KLA! On the same day, police dealt with protesters in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. About 300,000 people attended peaceful protests, praying for the remaining Serbs and lighting candles. However, few hundred people broke off and went on to storm into the American embassy, burning the American, not UN or NATO, flag and setting the building on fire. The political consequences of Kosovo’s independence are yet to be seen. While some worry that it may set an international precedent, triggering independence movements in Abkhazia, Ossetia, Transdnestrie in Moldova, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Basque Country, as well as other region where Albanians live, others deny such occurrences, basing it on the fact that Kosovo’s case is unique. The common people of Kosovo do not have much to hope for. They live in conditions of extreme poverty and ultimate danger, no matter what ethnicity they belong to. Kosovo remains what it has been for hundreds of years – a bloody diamond.

Albanian lobbyists, nationalists, and in some cases Muslim nationalists outside of Albania believe the modern borders of the new Kosovo are not enough. Like Kurdistan -- which straddles Serbia, Turkey, and Iraq -- the Albanian Muslims straddle many sovereign countries, including Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania. Many believe that Macedonia should also forfeit their northwestern provinces to the Albanians, even though the Macedonian Slavic government was brought to the brink of collapse by Albanian terrorism althroughout the 1990s. Some encourage Albania to merge with Kosovo because of common identity, ethnicity, language, religion, and culture.

Albanians disagree with their UN and US supporters. Albanian nationalists want "Greater Kosovo", which would force Montenegro, Macedonia, and Serbia again to give up their sovereign land. They could only successfully vouch for the smaller borders of today from their American and European supporters.

Geography

Climate

Climate of Kosovo is continental with warm summers and long, cold winters. Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountainous regions of Southern Europe, Kosovo has a large annual temperature range. Summer temperatures highs can reach more than 30 C, while winter temperatures can fall well below 0 C.

Hydrographic characteristics

Although Kosovo is landlocked, it has several major rivers and lakes. Major rivers are White Drin, Ibar, Sitnica and South Morava. Most of them run towards the Adriatic Sea; however, there is a hydrographic knot in Kosovo, with three rivers running to three different seas. There are approximately six lakes in Kosovo, having a mass of about 580,000,000 m3. There are also two waterfalls, no higher than 25 meters.

Mountain ranges

Much of Kosovo’s region is mountainous. The Sar Mountains are located to the south and southeast, bordering Macedonia. This is one of the region’s most popular tourist resorts. The highest peak is Djeravica, 2656 m high and bordering Albania. To the north is Kopaonik Mountain, one of the popular tourist centers in Serbia. Central Kosovo is mainly hilly.

Demographics of Kosovo

Kosovo has an estimated population of 2.1 million. The majority is Albanian, but it includes various minorities. In 1330, the so-called “Decani Charter” contained a detailed list of households in Kosovo and northern Albania: 3 out of 89 were Albanian, others being Slavic, mostly Serbian Orthodox. Out of 2,166 farming homestead and 2,666 houses in cattle grazing land, 44 were Albanian (1,8%). Most were Serbian. Non-Serbian population didn’t exceed 2% by the end of the century. Today, Albanians make up 88% percent of the entire population (according to an October 2002 estimate). 6% are Serbs, 3% non-Albanian Muslims, 2% Roma and 1% Turks.

Check the official stats of Kosovo's population here.

An ethnic map of Greater Kosovo. << Click to enlarge >>

Albanian people

Albanians were first mentioned in what is today Albania in the 12th century. Their origin is still not clear. A theory, which is today obsolete, saw them as a remainder of the classical Balkan population (Illyrian), but this has been recently disproved by archeology, linguistics, and genetics. Among Albanian nationalists, there is a firm rejection of this. The Albanian nation did not exist until the 15th century, when an Albanian Muslim warlord who was converted to Islam by the Turks reverted to Christendom and led the Albanians against the Muslim conquest. His name was Skanderbeg, derived from Iskander Beg (Alexander in Turkish, beg or bey meaning lord). The uprising failed, and Albanians became ruled by Muslims for nearly 400 years to ultimately become Europe's sole Muslim-majority population (in Kosovo and Albania). Another theory claims that they had migrated from the Caucasus into South Italy and Albania in the 12th century. Genetic research has sometimes indicated their origin in the Middle East, Anatolia, and Iran, with a share of assimilated Slavs, and other Balkan peoples. The Iranian theory derives in part from Thracian influence. The majority of Albanians live in their native country, Albania, but also form the majority population of Kosovo, where they became a majority in the second half of the of the 20th century. They are also present in Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro, and in the Diaspora. Today, most Albanians are Muslim (Sunni and Bectash), while some are Orthodox, Catholic, or Atheist. The characteristic Albanian material culture in Kosovo and Metohia, mostly dating from the 19th century, are towers, small family strongholds, especially present in Metohia, as well as new mosques, erected after Islamization and Albanization. Albanians speak Albanian, a specific Indo-European language, in fact consisting of two dialects (Gheg and Tosk) with historical layers of influence of Greek, Roman, and Slavic. Today, they use the Latin alphabet, after previously having used the Cyrillic, Greek, and two own alphabets. It is interesting that if the Caucasus origin theory on ancient Albanians and Serbs is proven to be true, it would transpire that these peoples had been neighbors also in prehistoric times. An ancient state around today's Azerbaijan is today called "Caucasian Albania" by historians, though it is largely unrelated (as another state in pre-unification Georgia was also called "Iberia").

Serbs

Balkan Serbs are a south Slavic people inhabiting primarily countries of the former Yugoslavia, and neighboring countries. This is probably the oldest and most prevalent Slavic ethnonym. Pliny and Ptolemy first mention them at the beginning of the New Age, but on the Caucasus. According to written sources, Slavs allegedly inhabited the Balkan Peninsula in the 6th century; however, new archeological and genetic research indicates different, maybe older Balkan origin for Serbs. In addition, there are several other secondary hypotheses for their origin, including the one having to do with Sarmatians. According to the present status in science, this issue is far from resolved. In the 20th century the division by religion has been definitely finalized, with Catholic Serbs becoming part of the Croatian nation, and with Moslem Serbs partially within the rather new, so called Bosnian corpus. According to contemporary archeological knowledge, they have been in Kosovo and Metohia at the latest since the 6th century, even though serious research is still to follow.

Gorani

Gorani are Serbs who converted to Islam, predominantly in the 19th century, and who speak an old Serbian dialect that is a transitory form Northwestern Macedonian. The Gora is the largest of the five parishes of the Šara Mountain. It is located in the Kosovo-Metohia region, around the upper part of the Ljuma River, between the Tetovo and the Prizren-Metohia basin. Gorani are also present in Albania and Macedonia, as well as in the numerous Diaspora.

Croats

Balkan Croats are a South Slavic people, predominantly Roman Catholic, inhabiting the former Yugoslavia, and neighboring countries. As in the case of Serbs (with whom they are in multiple symbiosis), this is also an old ethnonym, with a still unclear origin, and with several theories of ethnogenesis. Their contemporary standard language is equal to Serbian, even though in Dalmatia and Zagorje (Croatia), the original ancient Croatian Čakavian and Kajkavian variants are still maintained. Contemporary Kosovo Croats (Janjevci) are a remainder of medieval colonies of Catholic Serbs from Dubrovnik, who are today declared as Croats according to religious classification. However, it needs to be emphasized that there were certain groups of ancient Croats in the Southern Balkan in the early Middle Ages, as demonstrated by toponyms in Kosovo and Greece, as well as by archeological characteristics of the Koman-Kruje culture in Albania (end of 8th - 9th century, possibly the so called „Red Croats“).

Jews

The presence of Jews in the autonomous region is well documented as far back as the appearance of the Roman Empire in this region. After the genocide in World War II by Germans, Romanians, Italians, and Albanian SS units, and the NATO-Yugoslavia war of 1999, they are virtually no longer present in Kosovo and Metohia.

Roma (Gypsies)

A heterogeneous ethnic group, living mainly in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and Latin America. Based on latest genetic research, it is believed that they originate from the north of the Indian peninsula. They started to emigrate to Europe and North Africa one millennium ago. They speak Roma, and Indo-European tongue, related to classic Sanskrit. In addition to chief dialects, today most Roma speak the language of the country in which they live, thus assimilating with the dominant population. They are mainly nomads even today, which influences their way of life. They are largely homeless and hated in the different countries where they settle.

Turks

Their native state today is Turkey, but they are numerous also in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and in other countries of the former Ottoman Empire. According to medieval Chinese sources, the first known Turkish state was formed in 552, very quickly spreading to the territory of Central Asia. Muslim sources from the Abbasid state identified what historians today call "Volga Bulgaria", today near Kazan. Its relevance to modern Bulgaria is disputed. They belong to the large Eurasian Altaic linguistic group. Owing to the conquest of the region of the former Byzantine Empire, and by assimilation in a few cases, through history, they became a Mediterranean, and even a European people by modern definitions.

Economy

Kosovo is the most under-developed and poor region in Europe, with a per capita income estimated at 1,565 euros. Despite constant investment from the communist Yugoslav government, Kosovo remained extremely poor. In the 1990’s, a combination of poor economic policies, international isolation and embargo and war contributed to the present state of widespread poverty. In 2004, the deficit of balances of goods and services was estimated to a 70% of GDP. Remittances from Kosovars living abroad make up 13% of the GDP, while foreign investments make up 34%. The industrial sector remains weak and power supply is unreliable, with Serbs being cut off from it most of the time. Unemployment reaches 40-50%. However, Kosovo has world’s fifth largest proven lignite reserves, which could potentially be used. Significant reserves of nickel, chromium, bauxite and magnesium are present, but mining has stalled since 1999. Kosovo's flag is based upon the European Union, both in thanks for its effort in pressuring Kosovo to forfeit a huge part of their country as well as their hopes for European aid to this wickedly-poor region.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vuk Vukovic is a Serbian national who has spent much time studying in the United States, gaining a political understanding of both sides of the historical conflict between Yugoslavs and NATO and the US. Vuk has a special academic interest in history and the cultural, social, and political situation in the former Yugoslavia, including the ongoing Serb-Albanian struggle in Kosovo.

BIBLIOGRAPHY/SOURCES USED:

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-CIA World Factbook