2008 Kosovo declaration of independence facts for kids
On February 17, 2008, the leaders of Kosovo made a big decision. They declared Kosovo to be an independent country, separate from Serbia. This was done by the Assembly of Kosovo, which is like their parliament. All 109 members who were there voted for it. This was the second time Kosovo's leaders, mostly from the Albanian community, declared independence. The first time was in 1990.
Serbia's government did not agree with this. They said Kosovo's declaration was against the law. Serbia then asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to look into the matter. The ICJ later said that Kosovo's declaration did not break any international law.
What the United Nations Said
After Kosovo declared independence, Russia asked the United Nations Security Council to meet right away. This meeting happened on the same day, February 17, 2008. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, asked everyone to stay calm. He told all sides not to do or say anything that could cause trouble or violence in Kosovo or the area around it.
Six Western countries—Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States—spoke through Belgium's ambassador. They said they were sad that the Security Council could not agree on what to do next. They felt that Kosovo's declaration was the end of a long process to find a solution through talks.
Court's Decision on Kosovo
On July 22, 2010, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made its decision. The court ruled that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not go against international law.
Before the decision, Hashim Thaçi, who was Kosovo's Prime Minister, said there would be "no winners or losers." He expected the decision to be fair and based on what the people of Kosovo wanted. He also said that Kosovo would respect the court's advice.
On the other hand, Boris Tadić, who was the President of Serbia, gave a warning. He said that if the ICJ created a new rule, it could lead to many new countries forming. This, he warned, could make many parts of the world unstable.
Images for kids
-
Map of the Republic of Kosovo
-
Countries recognizing Kosovo by the end of 2008
-
Kosovo passport stamps cancelled by Serbian passport control police to show they don't recognize Kosovo's independence.
-
The Newborn monument was revealed when Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008, in its capital city, Pristina.
-
People celebrating Kosovo's independence in Lausanne, Switzerland, with their car showing the Swiss, Albanian, and American flags.
-
Hashim Thaçi and then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden with the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo.
See also
In Spanish: Declaración de independencia de Kosovo para niños
