Mitrovica: Kosovo's Litmus Test
ESI Discussion Paper, Berlin, 28 April 2006

Recognizing Kosovo independence
"terrible precedent" - Putin
Interfax, February 22, 2008
MOSCOW. Feb 22 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the recognition of Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence by several major world powers as "a terrible precedent."
"The independence of Kosovo is a terrible precedent. In effect, it breaks up the entire system of international relations, a system that has taken not even decades but centuries to evolve. And undoubtedly, it may entail a whole chain of unpredictable consequences," Putin said at an informal Commonwealth of Independent States summit in Moscow on Friday.
Supporters of Kosovan independence "cannot foresee the results of what they are doing," Putin said.
"Ultimately, it is a double-edged sword, and the other edge will bash them on the head some time," he said. as rp
Serbia vows to fight Kosovo's independence
Telegraph, February 21, 2008
Milosevic's brother: Serbia should consider
military action against Kosovo
Associated Press, February 19, 2008
Serbian Bishop calls for war
New Kosova Report, February 17, 2008
Recak - the massacre that led to
NATO intervention in Kosovo
New Kosova Report, February 11, 2008

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Russia will never use force
to solve Kosovo problem - envoy
RIA Novosti, February 24, 2008
Russia will never use force to solve the problem of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia, Russia's envoy to NATO said on Sunday.
"This [use of force] will never take place," Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with the Vesti television channel in reply to a request to comment on his statement made at a February 22 Moscow-Brussels video conference and wrongfully interpreted by some media. Some media claimed, referring to Rogozin's statement on Kosovo, that he admitted of the use of force to restore international law. These reports prompted an angry reaction from Washington. According to Rogozin, he would advise U.S. representatives to use reliable rather than dubious information sources.
Rogozin said Russia will defend its position on Kosovo in the UN Security Council as its permanent member.
Putin warns of 'brute force' over Kosovo
The Sidney Morning Herald,
February 24, 2008
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Kosovo's declaration of independence as a "terrible precedent" that will come back to hit the West "in the face".
The comments came as Moscow stepped up its condemnation of Western support for Kosovo's secession from Serbia, with a Russian envoy warning NATO and the European Union that "brute force" might be used in the region.
Kosovo Serbs count on Kremlin 'saviour'
France 24, February 24, 2008
Serbian settlers plan partition of Kosovo
Telegraph, February 23, 2008
Kosovo, the world's newest state, is facing a partition of its territory only a week after it unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. Serbian settlers demonstrate against Kosovan independence Serbs in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica demonstrate against Kosovo's independence
EU Withdraws Staff From
Divided Northern Kosovo City
AFP, February 23, 2008
The European Union has withdrawn staff from a divided Kosovo city following violent protests by the Serb minority, an E.U. envoy said Saturday as Russia warned Kosovo's independence could increase terrorism.
Serbs Attack U.N. Police
In Northern KosovoCity
The Associated Press, February 23, 2008
Kosovo may split into two parts
- Russian Foreign Ministry
Interfax, February 22, 2008
- Russia does not rule out the possibility of Kosovo splitting into Serbian and Albanian parts.
US Rules Out Kosovo Partition
By Barry Schweid, Associated Press,
February 29, 2008
The Bush administration notified Serbia on Thursday it was "absolutely opposed" to any attempt to partition Kosovo so that the Serbian minority could have its own homeland. "We will not support any form of partition," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said at a news conference. And, he said, "the great majority of countries would not stand for that."

Mitrovica Situation
Map of 'Mitrovica Situation '
(Click the image to zoom it!)
* Date: 24 Feb 2000
* Source: Humanitarian Community
Information Centre

Mitrovica Situation
Relief Web
Riots in Mitrovica, March 17 - 18 2007
Kosovo Net
Photos showing scenes from the bridge dividing North (Serbian) and south (Albanian) part of Mitrovica. Kosovo Albanian mob tried to break their way towards the north but was repelled by strong riot police and KFOR. Several people were wounded including internationals who were defending the Serb part of the city. Kosovo Albanians were even shooting with snipers from the neighboring blocks of apartments wounding several NATO soldiers.

Mitrovica: North and South
of a Divided City
Forced Migration Online
Mitrovica: Kosovo's Litmus Test
ESI Discussion Paper
Berlin, 28 April 2006