Kosovo
- Contested territories
- Administered by Kosovo
- Claimed by Serbia
- Area 10,887 km2
- Population 1,809,280
- Capital Pristina
- Divided city Mitrovica
- Declaration of Independence 17 February 2008
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It used to be an autonomous region of Yugoslavia, but after the breakup of this socialist republic and the war of 1998-1999, the Kosovo Albanian majority of the population strived for sovereignty. Kosovo’s independence is recognized by around 110 UN member states, among which the United States and most EU-countries. However, there is also a strong opposition against this independence, expressed by Serbia but also by Russia, China and Spain. The Kosovo Serb majority in the northern part of Kosovo refuses to be part of this new country. The Ibar River, running through the city of Mitrovica, marks the dividing line.
Surviving in Hotel Junior
Maja (20) is already living half of her life in an old run-down hotel in a Serbian enclave in Kosovo, sharing one room with her parents and brother. Her family was expelled by the Kosovo Albanians before the eyes of the international community, immediately after the war ended in 1999. ‘We don’t know how long we can stay here.’ (Article in Dutch)
Jorie Horsthuis | 4 Mar 2009
The Deserted Serbian Black Piste
Serbian people around the world demonstrated last week against the declaration of independence of Kosovo. The inhabitants of the small Serbian enclave of Brezovica in the Southern part of Kosovo fear for their future now that the Albanian population does not dare to come and ski at their slopes anymore. (Article in Dutch)
Jorie Horsthuis | 20 Feb 2009
Selling Hamburgers on the Mitrovica Bridge
From their hamburger shack on the bridge of Mitrovica, Šućo and Suad can oversee both the Serbian and the Albanian part of their city. The clientele of their hamburger business has decreased rapidly. “Albanian people crazy, Serbian people stupid.”
Jorie Horsthuis | 1 Feb 2008
