The Role of International Mediation in Defining Kosovo’s Final Status

Abstract

The trajectory that the process of defining the political-legal status of Kosovo has followed has been as complex and difficult, as well as unclear both in terms of time and content. While UNSC Resolution 1244 maintained (suspended) Yugoslavia's sovereignty over Kosovo and the UN international administration (UNMIK) was envisaged as a transitional phase then both sides, the Albanian and the Serbian side had completely different expectations. The first expected that after the removal of international administration Kosovo would declare its independence and begin life as an independent entity, while the second, the Serbian side, expected the restoration of sovereignty there, allowing for substantial autonomy. In these circumstances during 2004, especially after the events of March 2004, the status quo could not be maintained for long and the international community began to move slowly towards defining the future status of Kosovo.