Kosovo

Widespread poverty as a result of starking unemployment rate is a major and urgent issue in Kosovo. Distribution of assets is particularly uneven in the region with consequential inequalities among different groups of the population.

Kosovo has traditionally constituted the most depressed region of the entire federation. The situation has substantially worsened since the 80s (in correspondance with the wider financial crisis that hit Yugoslavia). Moreover, the 1999 bombardments destroyed the majority of the economic structure of the area.

The political instability that presently characterises Kosovo draws its origin in the lack of definition of its international status. Kosovo, formally still part of Serbia and therefore included in the Fed. Rep. of Yugoslavia, actually lives a completely detached existence from Belgrade.

The origins of the conflict between Serbs and Albanians are largely to be attributed to the periodic resurgence of nationalistic movements that, at regular intervals, have been able to dominate both factions. The complacent attitude of the international community, holding a myopic standpoint in dealing with ethnic divisions, has offered to these nationalistic movements the political space to act.