Kosovo declared independence from Serbia eight years (in 2008) following a NATO Bombing campaign (in 1999), which aimed at halting the ethnic cleansing campaign of ethnic Albanians by the Milosevic regime. Serbian armed forces of Yugoslavia had systematically targeted ethnic Albanians following the arrival of Milosevic on top of Yugoslavia in 1989. Serbia is responsible for the death of nearly 250,000 people across the Balkans within one decade.

Around 110 countries recognise Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia but not Serbia, Russia, China and five European Union member states.