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UÇKHistory and Memory

17 February 2008 · The postwar period and legacy

Kosovo's declaration of independence

On 17 February 2008, at an extraordinary meeting in Prishtina, Kosovo's elected leaders declared Kosovo “an independent and sovereign state”. On 22 July 2010 the International Court of Justice gave its opinion that the declaration did not violate international law.
Evidence status: Documented. Supported by contemporaneous documents, institutional reports or independent studies that corroborate one another.After June 1999PoliticsPostwar

Editorial status: Awaiting verificationDrafted from the cited sources; not yet fully reviewed by the editors.

Key facts

Date
17 February 2008
Place
Prishtina
Coordinates
Municipality level (approximate)
Sources
2
Evidence status
Evidence status: Documented. Supported by contemporaneous documents, institutional reports or independent studies that corroborate one another.

The ICJ's advisory opinion was adopted by 10 votes to 4 and addressed only whether the declaration violated international law [1] [2]. International recognition remains contested.

Sources

  1. [1]Kuvendi i Kosovës (kopje e arkivuar nga ETH Zürich, ISN). Kosovo Declaration of Independence, 17 February 2008. 2008-02-17. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/125409/8009_Kosovo_Independence.pdf. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  2. [2]Gjykata Ndërkombëtare e Drejtësisë (ICJ). Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in respect of Kosovo — Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 22 July 2010. 2010-07-22. https://www.icj-cij.org/node/103912. Accessed 2026-09-16.

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