On February 17, 2008, the Assembly of Kosovo declared the country's independence from Serbia, formally marking the former Serbian province's bid to become a sovereign state. Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, President Fatmir Sejdiu, and members of parliament overwhelmingly approved the Declaration of Independence. Thaci signed and sent 192 letters to nations around the world requesting that they recognize Kosovo as an independent state. The Assembly adopted a constitution in April 2008 and it officially went into effect on June 16, 2008. The establishment of an independent Kosovo raised protest from minority Serbs inside the country and the Serbian government argued that the Declaration of Independence was a violation of UN Resolution 1244.

Kosovo coat of arms

Learn more about Kosovo from the JURIST news archive and read commentary on Kosovo's independence from JURIST Guest Columnists Getoar Mjeku and Zana Berisha and Kutjesa Nezaj in Dateline.

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