Full History Of Kosovo In Timeline From 1901

May 1901: Albanian Pillaging

In May 1901, Albanians pillaged and burned cities and killed Serbs in multiple locations.

1910: Albanian Revolts

In 1910, Kosovo experienced Albanian revolts.

1912: Serbian Colonisation

Between 1912 and 1941, there was a large-scale Serbian colonisation of Kosovo undertaken by the Belgrade government.

1912: Territory Granted to Serbia and Montenegro

In 1912, Kosovo was granted to Serbia and Montenegro following the First Balkan War.

1912: Balkan Wars

In 1912, Kosovo was impacted by the Balkan Wars.

1912: Ottoman Empire Loses Control

In 1912, The region of Kosovo ceased being part of the Ottoman Empire.

1913: Treaty of London

In 1913, after the First Balkan War, the Treaty of London ceded Metohija to Montenegro and eastern Kosovo to Serbia.

1915: Serbian Army Retreat

In the winter of 1915-16, during World War I, the Serbian army retreated as Kosovo was occupied by Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary.

1918: Allied Powers Push Out Central Powers

In 1918, the Allied Powers pushed the Central Powers out of Kosovo.

1919: Land Reform

In 1919, Albanians and other Muslims were forced to emigrate, mainly with the land reform which struck Albanian landowners.

April 1922: New Administration System

On April 26, 1922, a new administration system split Kosovo among three districts of the Kingdom.

1929: Kingdom of Yugoslavia

In 1929, the country was transformed into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Kosovo's territories were reorganized.

1935: Expatriation Agreement with Turkey

In 1935, an agreement between Yugoslavia and Turkey was signed for the expatriation of Albanians.

1938: Second Expatriation Agreement with Turkey

In 1938, a second agreement between Yugoslavia and Turkey was signed on the expatriation of 240,000 Albanians to Turkey.

1941: Colonisation of Kosovo

Between 1912 and 1941, there was a large-scale Serbian colonisation of Kosovo undertaken by the Belgrade government.

1941: Axis Invasion

In 1941, after the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, most of Kosovo was assigned to Italian-controlled Albania, and the rest was controlled by Germany and Bulgaria.

August 1945: Law Disallowing Return of Colonists

In August 1945, a new law disallowed the return of colonists who had taken land from Albanian peasants.

1945: Autonomous Region Established

In 1945, the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija took shape.

1956: Show Trial in Pristina

In 1956, a show trial was held in Pristina, convicting Albanian Communists of being infiltrators.

1959: Final Demarcation of Province

In 1959, the final demarcation of the Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija was established.

1964: War-related Fatalities Investigation

In 1964, an official investigation recorded nearly 8,000 war-related fatalities in Kosovo between 1941 and 1945.

1966: Ouster of Ranković

After the ouster of Ranković in 1966, there was substantial decentralisation of powers and autonomy granted to Kosovo.

1969: Establishment of Kosovafilm

In 1969, the parliament of Kosovo established Kosovafilm, a state institution for the production, distribution and showing of films.

1974: Constitution of Yugoslavia

By the 1974 Constitution of Yugoslavia, Kosovo was granted major autonomy.

1978: League of Prizren Anniversary

In 1978, there were widespread celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Prizren.

February 1979: Kosova National Art Gallery founded

In February 1979, the Kosova National Art Gallery was founded, becoming the highest institution of visual arts in Kosovo.

March 1981: Kosovar Albanian Student Protests

In March 1981, Kosovar Albanian students at the University of Pristina organized protests demanding that Kosovo become a republic within Yugoslavia and seeking human rights. The protests were suppressed by the police and army, and many protesters were arrested.

1981: Albanian Protests

In 1981, protests by Albanians over the status of Kosovo resulted in violence and the protests being crushed.

1982: Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest

In 1982, Viktorija is the only artist from Kosovo who represented Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest as part of Aska.

1985: Conversions to Protestantism

According to Artur Krasniqi, conversions to Protestantism occurred since 1985.

1986: Serbian Orthodox Church Claim

In 1986, the Serbian Orthodox Church claimed that Kosovo Serbs were being subjected to an Albanian program of 'genocide'.

1989: Peak exports from the Rahovec facility

At its peak in 1989, the exports from the Rahovec facility amounted to 40 million litres and were mainly distributed to the German market.

1989: Reduction of Kosovo's Autonomous Status

In 1989, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević reduced Kosovo's special autonomous status within Serbia and initiated cultural oppression of the ethnic Albanian population. This led to a non-violent separatist movement among Kosovar Albanians.

July 1990: Proclamation of the Republic of Kosova

In July 1990, Kosovo Albanians proclaimed the existence of the Republic of Kosova.

1990: Kosovafilm taken over

In 1990, Kosovafilm was taken over by the Serbian authorities and dissolved.

1990: Low GDP worsens healthcare situation

In 1990, the low GDP in Kosovo worsened the already limited capabilities to develop a modern healthcare system.

1990: Restrictions on artists

Until 1990, many artists from Kosovo were unable to display their art in art galleries, and so were always on the lookout for alternatives, and even resorted to taking matters into their own hands because of the regime.

May 1992: Election of Ibrahim Rugova

In May 1992, Ibrahim Rugova was elected president of the Republic of Kosova.

September 1992: Declaration of Sovereignty and Independence

In September 1992, the Republic of Kosova declared itself a sovereign and independent state.

1992: Albanian Parliament Recognizes Republic of Kosova

In 1992, Albania was the only country whose parliament voted to recognise the Republic of Kosova.

November 1995: Status of Kosovo Unresolved

In November 1995, the status of Kosovo was not resolved as part of the Dayton Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War.

1996: KLA Attacks Begin

By 1996, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) launched attacks against the Yugoslav Army and Serbian police in Kosovo, leading to the Kosovo War.

September 1998: Lake Radonjić Massacre

In September 1998, Serbian police found bodies of people believed to have been murdered by the KLA at Lake Radonjić near Glođane.

December 1998: Resumption of Fighting in Kosovo

In December 1998, fighting resumed in Kosovo after a ceasefire failed, leading to the Račak massacre.

1998: Kosovo War

In 1998, the Kosovo War began, escalating tensions between Albanian and Serb communities.

1998: Peak population

Kosovo's population peaked at an estimated 2.2 million in 1998.

June 1999: Reestablishment of Kosovafilm

After Yugoslav withdrawal from the region in June 1999, Kosovafilm was reestablished.

June 1999: ICTY Indictments for Crimes During Kosovo War

Between January and June 1999, nine senior Yugoslav officials, including Milošević, were indicted by the ICTY for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Kosovo War.

June 1999: NATO Intervention and Withdrawal of Yugoslav Forces

Between March and June 1999, NATO intervened by bombing Yugoslavia, leading to Milošević agreeing to withdraw his forces from Kosovo by June. This intervention was combined with continued skirmishes between Albanian guerrillas and Yugoslav forces.

June 1999: UN Security Council Resolution 1244

On 10 June 1999, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1244, placing Kosovo under UN administration (UNMIK) and authorizing a NATO-led peacekeeping force (KFOR).

June 1999: KFOR entered Kosovo

On June 12, 1999, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) entered Kosovo, one day after the United Nations Security Council adopted the UNSC Resolution 1244.

1999: Conflict causes heritage damage

During the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, many buildings that represent this heritage were destroyed or damaged. In the Dukagjini region, at least 500 kullas were attacked, and most of them destroyed or otherwise damaged.

1999: Yugoslav Army Withdrawal

In 1999, the Kosovo War concluded with the withdrawal of the Yugoslav army and the establishment of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

1999: War in Kosovo

The War in Kosovo in 1999 was a reason for economic stagnation.

2000: Increase in Archaeological Expeditions

Since 2000, there has been an increase in archaeological expeditions, revealing previously unknown sites in Kosovo.

November 2001: First Elections for the Assembly of Kosovo

In November 2001, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe supervised the first elections for the Assembly of Kosovo.

October 2004: Kosovo-wide Elections

After Kosovo-wide elections in October 2004, the LDK and AAK formed a new governing coalition that did not include PDK and Ora.

2004: UNESCO recognises Visoki Dečani monastery

In 2004, UNESCO recognised the Visoki Dečani monastery as a World Heritage Site for its outstanding universal value.

2004: Kosovo Unrest

In 2004, prolonged negotiations over Kosovo's future status, sociopolitical problems and nationalist sentiments resulted in the Kosovo unrest, which caused deaths, injuries, and damage to property.

2004: Attacks on monuments

In 2004, the monuments have come under attack, especially during the ethnic violence.

2005: Estimated value of Kosovo's minerals

In 2005, the Directorate for Mines and Minerals and the World Bank estimated that Kosovo had €13.5 billion worth of minerals.

February 2006: International Negotiations on Kosovo's Status Begin

In February 2006, UN-backed talks, led by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, began to determine the final status of Kosovo.

2006: Property inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

In 2006, the property was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to difficulties in its management and conservation stemming from the region's political instability.

February 2007: Ahtisaari's Draft Status Settlement Proposal

In February 2007, Martti Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, proposing supervised independence for Kosovo.

July 2007: Draft Resolution Backing Ahtisaari's Proposal 'Discarded'

On 20 July 2007, the United States, United Kingdom, and other European members of the Security Council formally 'discarded' a draft resolution backing Ahtisaari's proposal, due to a failure to secure Russian backing.

November 2007: Parliamentary Elections Claim Victory

On 17 November 2007, after early results, Hashim Thaçi claimed victory for PDK in parliamentary elections and stated his intention to declare independence.

2007: Financial Crisis Onset

In 2007, the financial crisis began, impacting Kosovo's economy.

February 2008: Albania Recognizes Kosovo

In February 2008, Albania was one of the first countries to officially announce its recognition of the Republic of Kosovo.

February 2008: Kosovo Declares Independence

On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.

February 2008: Declaration of Independence

On February 17, 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia.

February 2008: Postponement of Declaration of Independence

The declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until after the Serbian presidential elections on 4 February 2008.

October 2008: UN General Assembly Resolution on Kosovo's Independence

On 8 October 2008, the UN General Assembly resolved to ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence.

2008: Kosovo Police assume law enforcement responsibilities

Following Kosovo's independence in 2008, the Kosovo Police assumed primary law enforcement responsibilities within the country.

2008: EULEX gains acceptance

In 2008, EULEX gained acceptance from Serbia and the UN Security Council and operated under the UNMIK mandate with operational independence.

2008: Claim of Kosovar Albanians converting to Protestantism

In 2008, Protestant pastor Artur Krasniqi claimed that "as many as 15,000" Kosovar Albanians had converted to Protestantism since 1985.

2008: Financial Crisis

In 2008, the financial crisis impacted Kosovo's economy.

2008: KFOR and KPC undertake preparations for the formation of the KSF

In 2008, under NATO leadership, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) began preparations for forming the Kosovo Security Force.

2008: Declaration of Independence

Since Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, the nation has made substantial advancements in international sports.

2009: Establishment of Kosovo's Security Force

In 2009, Kosovo's Security Force was established, gradually working towards self-sufficiency as KFOR's operations reduce.

July 2010: ICJ Advisory Opinion on Kosovo's Declaration of Independence

On 22 July 2010, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rendered its advisory opinion, holding that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not in violation of international law or UNSCR 1244.

2010: Dokufest voted as one of the best festivals

In 2010, Dokufest was voted as one of the 25 best international documentary festivals.

2011: Kosovo listed as a place to visit by The New York Times

In 2011, The New York Times included Kosovo on the list of 41 places to visit.

2011: Kosovo's religious composition

In the 2011 census, 95.6% of the population of Kosovo was counted as Muslim and 3.7% as Christian.

February 2012: Asterisk Agreement

On February 24, 2012, the "asterisk agreement" was reached between Pristina and Belgrade to allow Kosovo's participation in international forums.

2012: Eurovision Song Contest

In 2012, Rona Nishliu finished 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest.

2012: ICO concludes operations

In 2012, the ICO concluded its operations after fulfilling its obligations.

April 2013: Brussels Agreement Reached

On 19 April 2013, Kosovo and Serbia reached the Brussels Agreement, brokered by the EU, to allow the Serb minority in Kosovo to have its own police force and court of appeals.

2013: Brussels Agreement

According to the Brussels Agreement of 2013, Kosovo is divided into seven districts, which stipulated the formation of new municipalities with Serb majority populations.

2013: Eurovision Song Contest

In 2013, Nevena Božović represented Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest as a member of Moje 3.

2014: Construction of R6 Motorway started

Construction of the R6 Motorway started in 2014.

2014: Film submission for Academy Award

In 2014, Kosovo submitted their first film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, with Three Windows and a Hanging directed by Isa Qosja.

2014: Government announces plan to establish Ministry of Defence

In 2014, the government officially announced its decision to establish a Ministry of Defence by 2019, with the aim of transforming the existing Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces.

2015: Failed UNESCO Membership Bid

In 2015, Kosovo's bid to become a member of UNESCO fell three votes short of the two-thirds majority required to join.

2015: Involvement in the European Games

Kosovo's involvement in the European Games began in 2015, during which the nation amassed four medals.

2016: UEFA and FIFA full membership

In 2016, Kosovo achieved full membership status in both the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

2016: Olympic Games participation and first medals

In 2016, Kosovo first participated in the Olympic Games, achieving a milestone by securing its first medals, totaling five medals to date.

2017: Lindita represents Albania

In 2017, Lindita represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest.

2017: Construction of R7.1 Motorway began

In 2017, construction of the R7.1 Motorway began.

December 2018: Legislation enacted to transform Kosovo Security Force into an army

In December 2018, the government enacted legislation to redefine the mandate of the Kosovo Security Force, effecting its transformation into an army.

2018: UEFA Nations League success

During the 2018–19 edition of the UEFA Nations League, the national football team of Kosovo concluded the tournament atop their League D group, maintaining an unbeaten record.

2018: Participation in the Mediterranean Games

In 2018, Kosovo commenced participation in the Mediterranean Games, achieving success with a total of ten medals.

2018: Poverty and unemployment rates

In 2018, the International Monetary Fund reported that approximately one-sixth of the population lived below the poverty line and one-third of the working age population was unemployed.

December 2019: Agreement signed for joint energy bloc

In December 2019, an agreement was signed to form a joint energy bloc between Kosovo and Albania.

2019: Construction of R6 Motorway finished

Construction of the R6 Motorway finished in 2019.

2019: Ethnic composition of Kosovo

In 2019, Albanians constituted 92% of the population of Kosovo, followed by ethnic Serbs (4%), Bosniaks (2%), Turks (1%), Romani (1%), and the Gorani (<1%).

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score

In 2019, Kosovo had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.19/10, ranking it 107th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Eurovision Song Contest

In 2019, Nevena Božović represented Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest as a solo act.

2019: Increase in GDP for agriculture

In 2019, agriculture accounts for 6.6% of GDP, albeit an increase of 0.5 percentage points.

2019: Establishment of a Ministry of Defence set in motion

In 2019, the establishment of a Ministry of Defence was set in motion, solidifying the infrastructure and oversight for the newly formed armed forces.

September 2020: Recognition and Withdrawal of Recognition

As of 4 September 2020, 114 UN states recognized Kosovo's independence, while 10 states had subsequently withdrawn that recognition.

2020: Research report on trust and contact between ethnic groups

A 2020 research report funded by the EU shows that there is a limited scale of trust and overall contact between the major ethnic groups in Kosovo.

2021: Kosovo's estimated population

In 2021, the Agency of Statistics estimated Kosovo's population to be approximately 1,774,000.

2021: Kosovo engages in formulating a voluntary NDC

Since 2021, Kosovo is actively engaged in the process of formulating a voluntary Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with assistance from Japan.

December 2022: EU Membership Application

In December 2022, Kosovo formally applied for membership in the European Union.

December 2022: Application to the European Union

On 15 December 2022 Kosovo filed a formal application to become a member of the European Union.

February 2023: Meeting in Brussels

Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo organised a meeting in Brussels on 27 February 2023, to create and agree upon an 11-point agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalise ties between the two countries.

March 2023: Meeting in Ohrid

Presidents of Serbia and Kosovo organised a meeting in Ohrid on 18 March 2023, to create and agree upon an 11-point agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalise ties between the two countries, which includes recognizing "each other's documents such as passports and license plates".

2023: Kosovo ranked among top ten countries in safety and law enforcement

According to the Global Safety Report by Gallup, Kosovo ranked among the top ten countries globally in terms of perceived safety and law enforcement effectiveness in 2023.

2023: Foreign Relations of Kosovo

As of 2023, 104 out of 193 United Nations member states recognize the Republic of Kosovo. Within the European Union, it is recognized by 22 of 27 members and is a potential candidate for the future enlargement of the European Union.

2023: Kosovo establishes goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions

In 2023, Kosovo established a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 16.3% as part of its objective to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

2023: Press Freedom Index ranking

In 2023, Kosovo ranked 56th out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index, as reported by Reporters Without Borders.

2023: Kosovo Security Force members and KFOR operations

In 2023, the Kosovo Security Force had over 5,000 active members, using vehicles and weapons acquired from NATO countries, and KFOR continued operating under its UN mandate.

2023: Life expectancy and fertility rate in Kosovo

In 2023, the overall life expectancy at birth in Kosovo is 79.68 years, and the estimated total fertility rate is 1.88 children born per woman.

January 2024: Kosovo nationals exempt from Schengen Area visa requirements

In January 2024, Kosovo nationals became exempt from visa requirements within the Schengen Area for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

January 2024: Resolution of Vehicle Registration Plates Dispute

The demonstrations and tensions in Kosovo between 2022 and 2023 ended on 1 January 2024, when each country recognized each other's vehicle registration plates.