Kosovo Terms

Question 1

Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)

Answer 1

A political party in Kosovo, led by Ibrahim Rugova in the 1990s. It is currently one of the two main political parties in Kosovo.

Question 2

Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Gazimestan

Answer 3

name of the monument commemorating the Battle of Kosovo. Milošević delivered an inflammatory speech there.

Question 4

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

Answer 4

international, UN run court created to try the war criminals from the wars in the Former Yugoslavia.

Question 5

KFOR – Kosovo Force

Answer 5

The NATO operation created to place troops in Kosovo following the NATO bombing campaign. Still operating as monitors in Kosovo.

Question 6

Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) or UÇK

Answer 6

militia group formed by Albanian Kosovars to fight against the Serbian Army and police.

Question 7

Kosovo Polje

Answer 7

site of the 1389 Battle when Serbians fought against the Ottoman Empire. Means “field of blackbirds”

Question 8

Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM)

Answer 8

OSCE’s mission to monitor what was occurring in Kosovo in the late 1990s.

Question 9

Operation Allied Force

Answer 9

NATO’s bombing campaign against Serb targets in Serbia and Kosovo. March-June 1999.

Question 10

Operation Allied Harbor

Answer 10

NATO’s humanitarian assistance programs to attempt to deal with the refugee crisis in and around Kosovo.

Question 11

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Answer 11

an international organization that monitors security issues world wide.

Question 12

Račak

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Rambouillet Conference

Answer 13

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

Question 14

SANU Memorandum

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

UNHCR

Answer 15

United Nations High Commission for Refugees

Question 16

UNMIK - United Nations Mission in Kosovo

Answer 16

interim administration created by the UN for Kosovo. Currently still oversees UN operators in Kosovo

Question 17

William Walker

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Franjo Tudjman

Answer 18

head of state, Croatia, 1991-1999

Question 19

Hashim Tachi

Answer 19

KLA leader, part of the delegation to the Rambouillet. Would eventually become a leader PDK party, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo

Question 20

Ivan Stambolic

Answer 20

President of Serbia before Milosevic (until 1987) He was Milosevic’s mentor, but would be betrayed by him

Question 21

Wesley Clark

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Adam Demaci

Answer 22

Kosovar Albanian writer who became a leader of the KLA

Question 23

Richard Holbrooke

Answer 23

A US ambassador and negotiator. Used as a special envoy to Serbia and Kosovo to attempt negotiations

Question 24

Radovan Karadzic

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Milan Kucan

Answer 25

President of Slovenia 1991-2002

Question 26

Slobodan Milosevic

Answer 26

President of Serbia during the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo during the 1990s

Question 27

Ibrahim Rugova

Answer 27

Kosovar writer and politician. Led the LDK. Was elected president of Kosovo in 2002, an double serve until his death in 2006.