Abstract:
In March 1989 using threats of military force, the Government of Serbia de factoabolished the autonomy of Kosovo, and subsequently imposed a number of measuresimplementing centralized rule from Belgrade. Continuous oppression by Belgrade againstethnic Albanians in the following decade escalated in a bloody war, which was ended inJune 1999 by a NATO-led military intervention. Kosovo was placed under the protectionof the United Nations, and declared independent February 2008.
