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Kosovo is an impoverished land with a population of mainly ethnic Albanians,
MBOE!PG! unilaterally declaring independence from Serbia in February 2008. T e territory is
recognised as an independent nation by 22 out of the 27 EU members. It is land-locked
and sits in the former Yugoslavia, bordered by Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, known locally as FYROM.
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T e current estimated population of Kosovo is two million, with almost 90% being
ethnic Albanian, 6% Serbian and then small numbers of Bosniak, Roma and Turks.
Kosovo is the poorest region in the Western Balkans and this is reflected in widespread
public discontent with the economic state of the country; which often manifests itself in
generally peaceful protests in and around the capital Pristina, as approximately 40% of the
population are described as living in poverty with some 15% living in extreme poverty on
less than 75 pence per day.
Unemployment is around 40% with 90% of those being out work for over one year.

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On becoming President of Yugoslavia in 1989, Serbian Leader Slobodan Milosevic
proceeded to strip Kosovo of its autonomy, leading to the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA
stepping up its attacks on Serbian targets. T is action precipitated a major and brutal
crackdown by the Yugoslav military.
President Milosevic’s rejection of an internationally brokered deal to end the crisis in