KOSOVO AND SERBIA

3. Disintegration of Yugoslavia

• From 1945 after the end of World War II to 1992, the area in the Balkans comprising present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia, was one country, officially known as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) with Belgrade as its capital. Serbia included the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina.
• Following the collapse of the Soviet Union Yugoslavia disintegrated, with each republic becoming an independent country. Slovenia was the first to secede in 1991.
• The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the weakening of the central government in Yugoslavia, accompanied by resurgent nationalism.
• Political leaders exploited nationalist rhetoric, eroding the common Yugoslav identity and fueling fear and mistrust among ethnic groups.
• In 1998, ethnic Albanian rebels formed the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to challenge Serbian rule.

4. What prompted the recent clashes?

• In April this year, Kosovo held mayoral elections in municipalities.
• These elections were boycotted by ethnic Serbs in the northern municipalities and saw only about a 3% turnout, as a result of which ethnic Albanian mayors got elected in these municipalities.
• Notably, protesting the July 2023 move by Kosovo asking for a change of number plates, ethnic Serb mayors in northern municipalities, along with local judges and 600 police officers had resigned in November and opposed fresh elections to their posts.
  Over a week ago, with the support of the Kosovo police, ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo’s Serb­majority area and faced protests by Serbs.
• The move by Kosovo to install Albanian members led the U.S. and its allies to rebuke Pristina, as it triggered clashes.
• Then on May 29, 2023, violent clashes took place between NATO soldiers and Serb protesters.

5. Current status of Kosovo

• While Kosovo declared independence in 2008, Serbia still considers it to be an integral part of Serbian territory.
• Countries such as India, China, and Russia do not recognize Kosovo as a separate country, while the US, the majority of EU countries, Japan and Australia do so.
• A total of 99 out of 193 United Nations (UN) countries now recognize Kosovo's independence.

6. What about Serbia’s ties with Russia? 

• Kosovo's current leader and the West are also concerned about Serbia's strong historic and military ties with Moscow and its political closeness with President Vladimir Putin who has maintained support for the Serbian claim.
• The concerns have intensified after the start of the Ukraine conflict and Mr. Kurti has warned of a spillover in the Balkans backed by Russia.
• Besides, Serbia's dependence on Russia for diplomatic support to counter Kosovo's bids at the UN puts Moscow in a position of influence.
• The Carnegie Endowment paper on the issue points out that Kremlin also "fears that ending the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo will diminish Russia's stature in Serbia and severely undermine its clout in the Balkans.

7. India's Stand on the State of Kosovo

• India claims that Kosovo does not fulfill the three principles required for recognition: A defined territory, a duly constituted government accepted by the people, and effective control over an area of governance.
• India has opposed Kosovo's membership in international bodies such as UNESCO, the Apostille Convention, the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.
• India's non-recognition of Kosovo is based on its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, with whom it has a long-standing relationship.

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