Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archives Grade Level: 8-12 Subject: Current Events/Social Studies

Understanding Kosovo

On January 30, 1999, NATO approved military strikes if Serbia did not agree to open peace talks with ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo about independence for the province. Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic initially resisted pressure from the West, declaring, "We will not give away Kosovo, not even at the price of bombing."

Talks did open, however, and with them the saga of this ancient feud continues. In this lesson you will learn more about the history of the conflict, the issues involved, and the people whose lives have been shattered by violence in the region.

To understand the conflict between the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, you need to see through the eyes of both.

A View of Serbia

Start with an overview of Serbia. Visit the Web site of the Serbian Ministry of Information. If you're not sure where Serbia is, click the Where is Serbia link to view a map. Note the location of Kosovo, the southern province. For an overview of Serbia, click the Online Encyclopedia, where you can explore Serbia's natural treasures, learn about Serbia's history from the 7th century to the present, and view examples of Serbian art.

Next follow the link to Facts and Figures. Read the Facts page to read a brief overview of the country and people of Serbia, and then click the Provinces link to read about the northern province of Vojvodina and the southern province of Kosovo. Pay close attention to the Population section as you read, and see if you can determine some of the language, ethnicity, and religious differences that lie at the heart of this conflict.

If you are using a computer with RealPlayer installed, and you want to take a break from reading, click the RealVideo link to see videos of Serbia.

Kosovo Through Serbian Eyes

To get a of the Serbian perspective of the conflict at the Serbian Democratic Movement Web site. By reading the paragraph on the first page, you may better understand Serbia's strong resistance to the Albanian secessionist movement.

You may recall that at one time in America's history, the southern states were prohibited from breaking with the union over differences in ideology, and many men lost their lives in the course of the long conflict.

Click the Introduction link to read an expanded statement on the conflict. The Serbia Info News link directs you back to the Serbian Ministry of Information News site, with reports related to the Kosovo conflict. These stories are, as you would expect, strongly one-sided, depicting the Albanian members of the Kosovo Liberation Army as terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits.

Another Web point for the Serbian view is KOSOVO.NET, a no-holds-barred site casting Albanian rebels as ruthless terrorists.

Kosova Through Albanian Eyes

The 1,000-man Kosova Liberation Army (note the different spelling of Kosova) is the clear underdog in this conflict, opposing the Serbian army and police force of 35,000. But as America learned in Vietnam, and Russia in Afghanistan, military might does not always equal victory.

From the ethnic Albanian perspective, years of Serbian aggression and atrocities are at the heart of this conflict. Numerous reports of massacres, ethnic cleansing, and attacks by Serbian forces are largely behind NATO's rationale for intervention.

One site you can visit to get the Albanian perspective is the Kosova Crisis Center. Begin by reading the daily reports, this time told from the Albanian point of view. Follow the links under the heading Case for Independence, which includes reprints of articles from b news publications. You'll find a number of other links to articles and current news. Click the Kosova Crisis: The Timeline link to read a concise timeline of the crisis since 1389. The timeline is presented with the most recent events first, so if you want to read chronologically scroll to the bottom of the page and start there.

It's worth noting that this site is highly unreliable; Serbian hackers are actively trying to break in and disrupt this and other Albanian sites.

Another Web point for the Albanian view is the Kosova Liberation Peace movement site. Click The Albanian Question and read the complete text, or at least read the first and last two paragraphs and skim the remainder.

Compare this essay with Peace Actions on the Serbian Democratic Movement site. Whatever their differences, clearly there are many on both sides of this conflict who share in common the strong desire for peace in the region.

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