UPSC Prelims 2003 Q76: Current Affairs – International Conflicts & Security
Consider the following statements:
1. In Macedonia, ethnic Albanians are a minority.
2. In Kosovo, Serbians are a majority.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- (a) Only 1
- (b) Only 2
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) Only 1
Explanation
Ethnic Albanians in Macedonia and Serbs in Kosovo
| Statement | Verdict |
|---|---|
| 1. In Macedonia, ethnic Albanians are a minority | True — about a quarter of the population |
| 2. In Kosovo, Serbs are a majority | False: ethnic Albanians are the large majority and Serbs a minority |
Only statement 1 is correct.
Answer: (a) Only 1.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Only statement 1 is correct.
- (b) Incorrect. Serbs are a minority in Kosovo.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is false.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is true.
Key point
Kosovo: about 90 percent ethnic Albanians; Macedonia: Albanians about 25 percent.
Remember
Ethnic Albanians are a minority in Macedonia and a majority in Kosovo.
Common mistakes
- Thinking Serbs are the majority in Kosovo.
- Mixing Macedonia's and Kosovo's populations.
- Forgetting the 2001 Albanian insurgency in Macedonia.
Exam tip
Kosovo: Albanian majority, Serb minority in the north.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Kosovo
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — North Macedonia