Kosovo Terms Flashcards
Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)
A political party in Kosovo, led by Ibrahim Rugova in the 1990s. It is currently one of the two main political parties in Kosovo.
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)
A political party in Kosovo, formed independent Kosovo’s first coalition government with Hashim Thaçi as prime minister. Many early members were moderate former members of the KLA.
Gazimestan
name of the monument commemorating the Battle of Kosovo. Milošević delivered an inflammatory speech there.
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
international, UN run court created to try the war criminals from the wars in the Former Yugoslavia.
KFOR – Kosovo Force
The NATO operation created to place troops in Kosovo following the NATO bombing campaign. Still operating as monitors in Kosovo.
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) or UÇK
militia group formed by Albanian Kosovars to fight against the Serbian Army and police.
Kosovo Polje
site of the 1389 Battle when Serbians fought against the Ottoman Empire. Means “field of blackbirds”
Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM)
OSCE’s mission to monitor what was occurring in Kosovo in the late 1990s.
Operation Allied Force
NATO’s bombing campaign against Serb targets in Serbia and Kosovo. March-June 1999.
Operation Allied Harbor
NATO’s humanitarian assistance programs to attempt to deal with the refugee crisis in and around Kosovo.
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
an international organization that monitors security issues world wide.
Račak
a small town in Kosovo, where Serbian forces massacred about 45 Kosovar Albanians. Became a turning point in international willingness to get involved in Kosovo.
Rambouillet Conference
A conference in France, in 1999, which sought to re-establish autonomous governance for Kosovo. When the Serbians refused to sign the agreement, the Kosovo Bombing campaign was the next step
SANU Memorandum
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts memorandum from Sept. 1986. This falsely claimed that Serbians living in Yugoslavia, but outside of Serbia were being subjected to genocide.
UNHCR
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
UNMIK - United Nations Mission in Kosovo
interim administration created by the UN for Kosovo. Currently still oversees UN operators in Kosovo
William Walker
Head of the KVM. He would lead the efforts to monitor what was happening in Kosovo. His observance and statements concerning the Racak Massacre helped to galvanize international opinion, and led to a more forceful US and NATO policy concerning Serbia’s actions in Kosovo
Franjo Tudjman
head of state, Croatia, 1991-1999
Hashim Tachi
KLA leader, part of the delegation to the Rambouillet. Would eventually become a leader PDK party, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo
Ivan Stambolic
President of Serbia before Milosevic (until 1987) He was Milosevic’s mentor, but would be betrayed by him
Wesley Clark
A general in the US Army. Commander of NATO forces in the Kosovo Campaign. Became controversial for publicly disagreeing with Clinton over the use of ground troops
Adam Demaci
Kosovar Albanian writer who became a leader of the KLA
Richard Holbrooke
A US ambassador and negotiator. Used as a special envoy to Serbia and Kosovo to attempt negotiations
Radovan Karadzic
Leader of the Bosnian Serbs during the war in Bosnia. Would eventually be found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War
Milan Kucan
President of Slovenia 1991-2002
Slobodan Milosevic
President of Serbia during the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo during the 1990s
Ibrahim Rugova
Kosovar writer and politician. Led the LDK. Was elected president of Kosovo in 2002, an double serve until his death in 2006.
