Post by kassandri on Oct 10, 2013 13:08:41 GMT -5
A article that I have written. Enjoy!
A Short History of Kosovo
During ancient times, the Kosovo area was populated by the Illyrian tribe Dardani. They were often at war with the ancient Macedonian kingdom. The Dardani people were subdued by Rome after the Illyrian Wars 239-219 B.C. When the Roman Empire divided in 313 A.D, the Kosovo region was ruled by the Eastern Roman Empire. The Slavs arrived at the Balkan Peninsula in the early 7th century. Kosovo was for a brief time part of the Bulgarian Empire. A state made up of Serbian tribes was growing strongly and the Kosovo area was gradually incorporated into the growing empire. When Serbs arrived, according to Serbian historians, they found Kosovo "an empty land". The Albanian presence in Kosovo before the Serbian arrival is a disputed question. Presumably the Albanians came from the highland areas and settled in lowlands when Serbs started to leave Kosovo. The great migration, as called in Serbian history books, begins after a crushing defeat. The legendary battle at the historic site of Kosovo Polje came off on 15th June 1389. The Christian forces consisted of Balkan people commanded by Serbian Prince Lazar against Ottoman forces. During the course of events, an medieval knight of either Albanian or Serbian origin fooled the Ottomans, whom they thought changed side, only to assassinate the Ottoman sovereign. This did not help to stop the Ottoman advancement and the Christian Balkan army lost the great battle. Ottoman occupation and oppression forced many Serbs to leave Kosovo permanently. A small number of Serbs chose to stay, outnumbered by Albanians. During the Ottoman period many Albanians converted to the Islamic faith, aligned themselves with the Ottomans and by the Serbs now viewed as sworn enemies. Here the story with traumatic consequences begins. The rise of 17th century nationalism in the Balkans was one of the factors to the sudden collapse of the great Ottoman Empire. The last people in line to an own country was the Albanian people. They set up the Albanian League of Prizren on 10th June, 1878. The Albanian leaders claimed at first only autonomy to avoid their home country being swallowed by land-hungry neighbouring countries. The Ottoman rulers supported the Albanian separatists for their own strategic purposes, but when they took control over a large part of Kosovo the Ottomans became really annoyed. The league was finally suppressed in 1881 and the supporters were jailed or exiled. This suppression made the Serbian territorial ambitions easier. Serbia gradually won independence from Ottoman Empire the years between 1817-1878. Mythical Kosovo became a central piece of the Serbian national consciousness and the region with old and beautiful churches and monasteries became holy land for the Serbian Orthodox Church. During the first Balkan War 1912, Serbia entered Kosovo with military force but lost the former Ottoman province during both World Wars. In each takeover Serbian forces faced Albanian resistance which they crushed with serious consequences for the civilian population. Kosovo became a province of Serbia and enjoyed autonomy. Year 1989 the Serbian authorities annulled the autonomy of Kosovo without the approval of a majority of the citizens in the province. The development to this conflicting decision was as a result of administrative complications and economic neglect and ethnic violence and tension in Jugoslavia. The situation worsened when Serbia's government decided to dismiss Albanian workers and ban the use of the Albanian language in education and media. Pacifistic resistance against the Serbian regime led by Kosovar elected leader Ibrahim Rugova faced opposition in radical circles. Radical supporters said armed resistance is the only struggle against the Serbian violence. Out of this situation, the Kosovo Albanian guerrilla army UÇK was formed, which offered strong resistance to the Serbian oppression. UÇK began armed actions against Serbian police forces in Kosovo and reached culmination in 1998 as an insurgent, forcing the Serbian army to intervene to retake control. The Serbian army committed bestial atrocities against the Albanian civilian population, which was condemned by the United Nations (UN) who also urged a Serbian military withdrawal. The UN achieved a ceasefire but it became short-lived. During the ceasefire period UÇK managed to better equip its armed forces and resumed armed resistance against Serbian forces. The Serbian army responded with horrific actions and ruthless ethnic cleansing. The UN banned Serbia from military weapons import but the violence was far away from over. Peace discussions about Kosovo began on 6th February 1999 at the French château of Rambouillet but failed. In March of the same year North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) attacked Serbian military targets through the air. The Serbian answer became bloody massacres and mass deportation of the Albanian civilian population. After two months of air bombing the Serbian leadership agreed to sign a peace agreement, withdraw the entire forces and accepted the return of refugees. At the same time many Serbs departed because of feared revenge by the Albanians. UN entered Kosovo to begin building a future for the province and KFOR (Kosovo Force) was chosen to guarantee security. On 17th February 2008 Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia.
A Short History of Kosovo
During ancient times, the Kosovo area was populated by the Illyrian tribe Dardani. They were often at war with the ancient Macedonian kingdom. The Dardani people were subdued by Rome after the Illyrian Wars 239-219 B.C. When the Roman Empire divided in 313 A.D, the Kosovo region was ruled by the Eastern Roman Empire. The Slavs arrived at the Balkan Peninsula in the early 7th century. Kosovo was for a brief time part of the Bulgarian Empire. A state made up of Serbian tribes was growing strongly and the Kosovo area was gradually incorporated into the growing empire. When Serbs arrived, according to Serbian historians, they found Kosovo "an empty land". The Albanian presence in Kosovo before the Serbian arrival is a disputed question. Presumably the Albanians came from the highland areas and settled in lowlands when Serbs started to leave Kosovo. The great migration, as called in Serbian history books, begins after a crushing defeat. The legendary battle at the historic site of Kosovo Polje came off on 15th June 1389. The Christian forces consisted of Balkan people commanded by Serbian Prince Lazar against Ottoman forces. During the course of events, an medieval knight of either Albanian or Serbian origin fooled the Ottomans, whom they thought changed side, only to assassinate the Ottoman sovereign. This did not help to stop the Ottoman advancement and the Christian Balkan army lost the great battle. Ottoman occupation and oppression forced many Serbs to leave Kosovo permanently. A small number of Serbs chose to stay, outnumbered by Albanians. During the Ottoman period many Albanians converted to the Islamic faith, aligned themselves with the Ottomans and by the Serbs now viewed as sworn enemies. Here the story with traumatic consequences begins. The rise of 17th century nationalism in the Balkans was one of the factors to the sudden collapse of the great Ottoman Empire. The last people in line to an own country was the Albanian people. They set up the Albanian League of Prizren on 10th June, 1878. The Albanian leaders claimed at first only autonomy to avoid their home country being swallowed by land-hungry neighbouring countries. The Ottoman rulers supported the Albanian separatists for their own strategic purposes, but when they took control over a large part of Kosovo the Ottomans became really annoyed. The league was finally suppressed in 1881 and the supporters were jailed or exiled. This suppression made the Serbian territorial ambitions easier. Serbia gradually won independence from Ottoman Empire the years between 1817-1878. Mythical Kosovo became a central piece of the Serbian national consciousness and the region with old and beautiful churches and monasteries became holy land for the Serbian Orthodox Church. During the first Balkan War 1912, Serbia entered Kosovo with military force but lost the former Ottoman province during both World Wars. In each takeover Serbian forces faced Albanian resistance which they crushed with serious consequences for the civilian population. Kosovo became a province of Serbia and enjoyed autonomy. Year 1989 the Serbian authorities annulled the autonomy of Kosovo without the approval of a majority of the citizens in the province. The development to this conflicting decision was as a result of administrative complications and economic neglect and ethnic violence and tension in Jugoslavia. The situation worsened when Serbia's government decided to dismiss Albanian workers and ban the use of the Albanian language in education and media. Pacifistic resistance against the Serbian regime led by Kosovar elected leader Ibrahim Rugova faced opposition in radical circles. Radical supporters said armed resistance is the only struggle against the Serbian violence. Out of this situation, the Kosovo Albanian guerrilla army UÇK was formed, which offered strong resistance to the Serbian oppression. UÇK began armed actions against Serbian police forces in Kosovo and reached culmination in 1998 as an insurgent, forcing the Serbian army to intervene to retake control. The Serbian army committed bestial atrocities against the Albanian civilian population, which was condemned by the United Nations (UN) who also urged a Serbian military withdrawal. The UN achieved a ceasefire but it became short-lived. During the ceasefire period UÇK managed to better equip its armed forces and resumed armed resistance against Serbian forces. The Serbian army responded with horrific actions and ruthless ethnic cleansing. The UN banned Serbia from military weapons import but the violence was far away from over. Peace discussions about Kosovo began on 6th February 1999 at the French château of Rambouillet but failed. In March of the same year North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) attacked Serbian military targets through the air. The Serbian answer became bloody massacres and mass deportation of the Albanian civilian population. After two months of air bombing the Serbian leadership agreed to sign a peace agreement, withdraw the entire forces and accepted the return of refugees. At the same time many Serbs departed because of feared revenge by the Albanians. UN entered Kosovo to begin building a future for the province and KFOR (Kosovo Force) was chosen to guarantee security. On 17th February 2008 Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia.