Kosovo

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Kosovo

Constitutional status of Kosovo Declaration of independence Diplomatic response UNSC Resolution 1244 Kosovo status process Standards for Kosovo UNMIK, EULEX and KFOR International Steering Group International Civilian Rep. Pieter Feith Military of Kosovo Kosovo Protection Corps Kosovo Police Service Constitution Provisional Institutions President Fatmir Sejdiu Government / Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi Assembly / Chair Jakup Krasniqi Foreign relations Political parties Elections: 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008 Districts · Municipalities

See also: Portal:Politics  v • d • e

Politics of Kosovo takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Kosovo is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. The political status of Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between the Serbian (and previously the Yugoslav) The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was an act of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government Assembly of Kosovo, adopted on 17 February 2008 which declared United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 authorised an international civil and military presence in Kosovo, then part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia During and after the breakup of Yugoslavia there were increasing ethnic and regional conflicts culminating in the Kosovo War of 1999 The Standards for Kosovo are a set of UN-endorsed benchmarks for the democratic development of Kosovo. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is the interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX Kosovo, is a planned deployment of European Union (EU police and civilian resources to Kosovo as The Kosovo Force ( KFOR) is a NATO -led international force responsible for establishing a safe and secure environment in Kosovo, the self-proclaimed independent The International Steering Group for Kosovo had its inaugural meeting on Thursday February 28, 2008. The International Civilian Representative for Kosovo (ICR is a civilian officer appointed to oversee the Kosovo status settlement proposal drafted by UN Special Pieter Cornelis Feith ( February 9, 1945) is a Dutch Diplomat, currently serving as the European Union Special Representative The Military of Kosovo is an organisation still in the process of being formed following the self-proclaimed and partially recognized declaration of independence of The Kosovo Protection Corps (Trupat e Mbrojtjes së Kosovës is a civilian emergency services organisation in Kosovo. The Kosovo Police Service (KPS Albanian: Shërbimi Policor i Kosovës; Serbian: Kosovska Policijska Služba) was created in 1999 See also Constitutional status of Kosovo The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo purportedly came into effect on 15 June The Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (Institucionet e përkohshme të vetëqeverisjes Serbian: Привремене институције самоуправе The President of the Republic of Kosovo (Kryetari i Kosovës or Serbian: sr-Cyrl председник Косова is Head of State of the Republic Fatmir Sejdiu ( Serbo-Croat: Fatmir Sejdiju) (born October 23, 1951) is the second and current President of Kosovo. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is the branch of Kosovo state institutions that exercises executive authority in Kosovo. The Prime Minister of Kosovo (Kryeministri i Kosovës Serbian: sr-Cyrl Премијер Косова ''Premijer Kosova'' is the Head of Government for Kosovo. Hashim Thaçi ( Albanian: Hashim Thaçi Serbo-Croat: Hašim Tači, Хашим Тачи born 24 April, 1968 in Drenica The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Скупштина Косова Skupština Kosova) is an institution within the Provisional Institutions The Chair of the Assembly of Kosovo (Kryetari i Kuvendit të Kosovës or Kryeparlamentari Serbian: sr-Cyrl Председник Скупштине Косова Jakup Krasniqi is the president of the Assembly of Kosovo. Krazniqi was born in 1951 in the village of Negrofc, in Glogovac municipality Republic of Kosovo 160 seats in Parliament Some parties(mostly minority parties/ very small parties have no representive at parliament because they are in a coalition with another Parliamentary elections to the Assembly of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Serbian: sr-Cyrl Скупштина Косова transliterated sr-Latn Skupstina Parliamentary elections were held in Kosovo in 2001 Results Parliamentary elections were held in Kosovo on 24 October 2004. Parliamentary elections to the unicameral Assembly of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Serbian: sr-Cyrl Скупштина Косова The 2008 Serbian local elections in Kosovo were held on May 11, 2008 as part of Serbia's parliamentary elections and elections in Vojvodina The Districts of Kosovo (Rreth Serbian: sr Дистрикт transliterated sr-Latn ''Distrikt'' are the higher-level Administrative divisions A Municipality (komuna Serbian: sr-Cyrl општина transliterated sr-Latn ''opština'' is the basic Administrative division in Kosovo A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its The Prime Minister of Kosovo (Kryeministri i Kosovës Serbian: sr-Cyrl Премијер Косова ''Premijer Kosova'' is the Head of Government for Kosovo. This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of Kosovo. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Скупштина Косова Skupština Kosova) is an institution within the Provisional Institutions The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State

Autonomy and Independence

The Autonomous Province of Kosovo was established in 1945 as an autonomous entity within the Socialist Republic of Serbia. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Socialist Republic of Serbia ( Serbo-Croatian: Социјалистичка Република Србија Socijalistička Republika Srbija) was a Socialist Under the 1974 constitution, Kosovo obtained extensive autonomy, and became one of the subjects of the Yugoslav federation. The Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY was the supreme law of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its predecessor the Federal

On 5 July 1989 this extensive autonomy was largely revoked by Milošević's regime and the amount of autonomy of Kosovo had became nominal and greatly limited. Events 1295 - Scotland and France form an alliance the beginnings of the Auld Alliance, against England. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) On 28 September 1990 the name of the province was reverted back to Autonomous Province of Kosovo.

In 1990, Kosovo declared independence, only to be recognised by Albania. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) This article is about the country in southern Europe For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Albania topics. It functioned as a separate republic under the name Republic of Kosova, although it was still considered as a division of Serbia. In 1999, the United Nations decided to put Kosovo under their administration due to the aftermath of the War in Kosovo. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts in Kosovo: 1996–1999 Under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo was established on 10 June 1999, which maintained how the Province of Kosovo functioned. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 authorised an international civil and military presence in Kosovo, then part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is the interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) UNSCR 1244 also called for a political process to determine the future status of Kosovo; UN-sponsored negotiations began in 2006 (see Kosovo status process). During and after the breakup of Yugoslavia there were increasing ethnic and regional conflicts culminating in the Kosovo War of 1999

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 placed Kosovo under transitional UN administration pending a determination of Kosovo's future status. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 authorised an international civil and military presence in Kosovo, then part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia This Resolution entrusted UNMIK with sweeping powers to govern Kosovo, but also directed UNMIK to establish interim institutions of self-governance. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is the interim civilian administration in Kosovo, under the authority of the United Resolution 1244 permits Serbia no role in governing Kosovo and since 1999, Serbian laws and institutions have not been valid in Kosovo. The resolution recognizes Serbia's sovereignty of Kosovo. NATO has a separate mandate to provide for a safe and secure environment. The North Atlantic Treaty

Logo of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government

In May 2001, UNMIK promulgated the Constitutional Framework, which established Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). The Coat of Arms of the Republic of Kosovo was introduced but not yet formally adopted following the unilateral declaration of independence from The Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (Institucionet e përkohshme të vetëqeverisjes Serbian: Привремене институције самоуправе Since 2001, UNMIK has been gradually transferring increased governing competencies to the PISG, while reserving some powers that are normally carried out by sovereign states (e. g. , foreign affairs). Kosovo has also established municipal governments and an internationally-supervised Kosovo Police Service.

The largest political party in Kosovo, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), has its origins in the 1990s non-violent resistance movement to Milošević's rule. The party was led by Ibrahim Rugova until his death in 2006. Prof Dr Ibrahim Rugova ( December 2, 1944 – January 21, 2006) was a politician of Albanian descent who was the first The two next largest parties have their roots in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA): the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) led by former KLA leader Hashim Thaci and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) led by former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj. The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA ( Albanian: Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës or UÇK) was a Kosovar Albanian guerilla group which sought Hashim Thaçi ( Albanian: Hashim Thaçi Serbo-Croat: Hašim Tači, Хашим Тачи born 24 April, 1968 in Drenica Ramush Haradinaj ( Serbo-Croatian: Рамуш Харадинај Ramuš Haradinaj) born 3 July 1968 in the village of Glođane near Kosovo publisher Veton Surroi formed his own political party in 2004 named "Ora. Veton Surroi (born July 17, 1961) is a popular Kosovo Albanian publicist and politician " Kosovo Serbs formed the Serb List for Kosovo and Metohija (SLKM) in 2004, but have boycotted Kosovo's institutions and never taken their seats in the Kosovo Assembly.

In November 2001, the OSCE supervised the first elections for the Kosovo Assembly. After that election, Kosovo's political parties formed an all-party unity coalition and elected Ibrahim Rugova as President and Bajram Rexhepi (PDK) as Prime Minister. Bajram Rexhepi ( Serbo-Croat: Бајрам Реџепи Bajram Redžepi) (born June 3, 1954 in Kosovska Mitrovica, Yugoslavia

Building of the Assembly of Kosovo in Pristina. The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Скупштина Косова Skupština Kosova) is an institution within the Provisional Institutions

After Kosovo-wide elections in October 2004, the LDK and AAK formed a new governing coalition that did not include PDK and Ora. This coalition agreement resulted in Ramush Haradinaj (AAK) becoming Prime Minister, while Ibrahim Rugova retained the position of President. PDK and Ora were critical of the coalition agreement and have since frequently accused the current government of corruption.

Ramush Haradinaj resigned the post of Prime Minister after he was indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in March 2005. He was replaced by Bajram Kosumi (AAK). Bajram Kosumi (born March 20, 1960, in Tuxhec, Kosovska Kamenica - Kosovo, then part of Yugoslavia) is an ethnic But in a political shake-up after the death of President Rugova in January 2006, Kosumi himself was replaced by former Kosovo Protection Corps commander Agim Çeku. Agim Çeku ( Serbo-Croat: Agim Čeku) (born 29 October 1960 in the village of Ćuška near Pejë/Peć, in Kosovo Çeku has won recognition for his outreach to minorities, but Serbia has been critical of his wartime past as military leader of the KLA and claims he is still not doing enough for Kosovo Serbs. A Serbian court has indicted Çeku for war crimes he committed in Kosovo. The Kosovo Assembly elected Fatmir Sejdiu, a former LDK parliamentarian, president after Rugova's death. Fatmir Sejdiu ( Serbo-Croat: Fatmir Sejdiju) (born October 23, 1951) is the second and current President of Kosovo. Slaviša Petković, Minister for Communities and Returns, was previously the only ethnic Serb in the government, but resigned in November 2006 amid allegations of corruption at his ministry. ^[1][2]

On February 10, 2007, nearly 3,000 people protested against the plan by United Nations chief negotiator Martti Ahtisaari which would in effect grant independence to the Kosovo province. Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari ( pronounced) (born on June 23 1937 is a former President of Finland (1994–2000 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner and Some militant ethnic Albanian groups, like Vetevendosje (Self-determination) that led the Saturday ethnic Albanian protests in Pristina, oppose UN sponsored talks and want the Kosovo parliament to declare independence immediately. } Albanians (Shqiptarët are an Ethnic group and a Nation, in the sense of sharing a common Albanian culture speaking the Albanian language VETËVENDOSJE! ( Albanian for 'Self-Determination' is a group in Kosovo which opposes the United Nations administration in the country and campaigns for The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Скупштина Косова Skupština Kosova) is an institution within the Provisional Institutions On Tuesday February 13, 2007, Kosovo interior minister Fatmir Rexhepi resigned after two people died of injuries suffered in clashes with police during the protest. [1]

Elections were held in Kosovo on 17 November 2007. After early results on the morning of the 18th indicating opposition leader Hashim Thaçi was on course to gain 35 per cent of the vote, he claimed victory for PDK, the Albanian Democratic Party, and stated his intention to declare independence. Hashim Thaçi ( Albanian: Hashim Thaçi Serbo-Croat: Hašim Tači, Хашим Тачи born 24 April, 1968 in Drenica The Democratic Party of Kosovo ( Albanian: Partia Demokratike e Kosovës - short PDK) is the largest Political party in Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League was in second place with 22 percent of the vote. Fatmir Sejdiu ( Serbo-Croat: Fatmir Sejdiju) (born October 23, 1951) is the second and current President of Kosovo. The Democratic League of Kosovo ( Albanian: Lidhja Demokratike e Kosovës, LDK is the 2nd largest Political party in The turnout at the election was particularly low with most Serbs refusing to vote. ^[3]

On December 25th, 2007 it was announced Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo would form a coallition with President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League forming a slight majority of 62 seats out of 120. The Democratic Party of Kosovo ( Albanian: Partia Demokratike e Kosovës - short PDK) is the largest Political party in Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu ( Serbo-Croat: Fatmir Sejdiju) (born October 23, 1951) is the second and current President of Kosovo. The Democratic League of Kosovo ( Albanian: Lidhja Demokratike e Kosovës, LDK is the 2nd largest Political party in Thaci's government will include 7 ministers from his party, 5 ministers from LDK and 3 ministers from non-Albanian communities. ^[4]

Following years of failed negotiations on the status of Kosovo in Serbia, PISG Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi announced on 16 February 2008 that the Assembly of Kosovo would declare independence the following day, 17 February 2008 at 17:00h. During and after the breakup of Yugoslavia there were increasing ethnic and regional conflicts culminating in the Kosovo War of 1999 The Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (Institucionet e përkohshme të vetëqeverisjes Serbian: Привремене институције самоуправе The Prime Minister of Kosovo (Kryeministri i Kosovës Serbian: sr-Cyrl Премијер Косова ''Premijer Kosova'' is the Head of Government for Kosovo. Hashim Thaçi ( Albanian: Hashim Thaçi Serbo-Croat: Hašim Tači, Хашим Тачи born 24 April, 1968 in Drenica Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Скупштина Косова Skupština Kosova) is an institution within the Provisional Institutions Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The independent Republic of Kosovo has since been recognised by several states.

Executive branch

The current Government of the Republic of Kosovo comprises the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers as well as ministers. The President of the Republic of Kosovo (Kryetari i Kosovës or Serbian: sr-Cyrl председник Косова is Head of State of the Republic Fatmir Sejdiu ( Serbo-Croat: Fatmir Sejdiju) (born October 23, 1951) is the second and current President of Kosovo. The Democratic League of Kosovo ( Albanian: Lidhja Demokratike e Kosovës, LDK is the 2nd largest Political party in Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Prime Minister of Kosovo (Kryeministri i Kosovës Serbian: sr-Cyrl Премијер Косова ''Premijer Kosova'' is the Head of Government for Kosovo. Hashim Thaçi ( Albanian: Hashim Thaçi Serbo-Croat: Hašim Tači, Хашим Тачи born 24 April, 1968 in Drenica The Democratic Party of Kosovo ( Albanian: Partia Demokratike e Kosovës - short PDK) is the largest Political party in Kosovo Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is the branch of Kosovo state institutions that exercises executive authority in Kosovo. Hashim Thaçi is the Prime Minister of Kosovo and head of the Government. Hashim Thaçi ( Albanian: Hashim Thaçi Serbo-Croat: Hašim Tači, Хашим Тачи born 24 April, 1968 in Drenica The ruling parties in Kosovo are the Democratic Party of Kosovo (Partia Demokratike e Kosovës, PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (Lidhja Demokratike e Kosovës, LDK)

Legislative branch

The Assembly of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës) has 120 members elected for a four-year term. The Democratic Party of Kosovo ( Albanian: Partia Demokratike e Kosovës - short PDK) is the largest Political party in Kosovo The Democratic League of Kosovo ( Albanian: Lidhja Demokratike e Kosovës, LDK is the 2nd largest Political party in The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Скупштина Косова Skupština Kosova) is an institution within the Provisional Institutions According to the Constitutional Framework, Kosovo shall have an Assembly consisting of 120 members. The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (Kuvendi i Kosovës Скупштина Косова Skupština Kosova) is an institution within the Provisional Institutions The Assembly includes twenty reserved seats: ten for Kosovar Serbs and ten for non-Serb minorities (e. g. , Bosniak, Roma, etc. ). Kosovo has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a Cabinet of a parliamentary Government in which several parties cooperate

The Assembly passes all laws in Kosovo, ratifies international treaties, appoints the President, Prime Minister, ministers, and justices of all courts, adopts the budget and performs other duties as established by the Constitution. The President of the Republic of Kosovo (Kryetari i Kosovës or Serbian: sr-Cyrl председник Косова is Head of State of the Republic The Prime Minister of Kosovo (Kryeministri i Kosovës Serbian: sr-Cyrl Премијер Косова ''Premijer Kosova'' is the Head of Government for Kosovo. The Parliament can pass a vote of no-confidence on the Government by a majority of the members.

Political parties and Elections

Judiciary branch

See also

• Standards for Kosovo

External links

• United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
• http://www.ks-gov.net/portal/eng.htm
• OSCE Mission in Kosovo
• European Union Mission in Kosovo
• Assembly of Kosovo
• Old rivalries behind Kosovo intelligence plan Jane's Intelligence Digest, 12 September 2006

References