Kosovo Independence Day Explained

Holiday Name:	Kosovo Independence DayAlbanian: Dita e Pavarësisë së Kosovës
Type:	national
Observedby:	Kosovo
Significance:	Marks Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008.
Date:	17 February
Scheduling:	same day each year
Frequency:	annual

Kosovo Independence Day (Albanian: Dita e Pavarësisë së Kosovës) is a national independence day celebrated in Kosovo every 17 February.^[1]

Background

See main article: 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence and International recognition of Kosovo. Kosovo is the second youngest country in the world (behind South Sudan which declared independence in 2011) and the youngest country in Europe to have been recognized (partially by over 100 UN member states). After a 2008 referendum,^[2] Kosovo declared Independence on 17 February 2008.^[3] However, Serbia didn't like the partial recognition of Kosovo as an independent state and neither did some other nations including Russia, India, China and other states.^[4] After the controversy, the UN court (ICJ) ruled on 22 July 2010 that Kosovo’s independence did not violate international law.^[5]

See also

• Statehood Day (Serbia)
• Culture of Kosovo

Notes and References

1. News: Kosovo Declares Its Independence from Serbia. The New York Times. 18 February 2008. Bilefsky. Dan.
2. Web site: Kosovo celebrates amid Serb protests . CNN . 13 January 2022 . 18 February 2008.
3. News: Full text: Kosovo declaration. 17 February 2008.
4. Web site: Putin compares Kosovo's 2008 independence to Russia's annexation of Crimea; others disagree. . 24 March 2015.
5. News: Kosovo's independence is legal, UN court rules. The Guardian . 22 July 2010 . Beaumont . Peter .