Overview
Happy Independence Day! This Briefing examines the birth of the world’s newest country – Kosovo. On Monday, February 18, 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia. Needless to say, Serbia isn’t happy that parts of its country are running like rats from a sinking ship, so it has enlisted the support of Russia to ensure that Kosovo doesn’t get recognized in the UN or other international bodies. The implications of this independence, on both Russian relations with the West and separatist movements worldwide, ensures that this topic has the far reaching impacts that will make it last a long time in extemp – and make a for a more interesting speech.