Kosovo Independence Day Albanian: Dita e Pavarësisë së Kosovës
Observed byKosovo
SignificanceMarks Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008.
Date17 February
Next time17 February 2025 (2025-02-17)
Frequencyannual
Celebration of the declaration of independence of Kosovo in Vienna, Austria

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

Background

Main articles: 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 out on 22 July 2010 that Kosovo did not violate international law.[5]

See also

References

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