This period began on 10 June 1999 with the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244[3] and effectively ended on 17 February 2008 with the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo.

In 1990, under the regime of Slobodan Milošević, the level of autonomy was reduced and the official name reverted to the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

In 1991, during the Breakup of Yugoslavia, Ethnic Albanian representatives of Provincial Assembly unilaterally declared the Republic of Kosova and established parallel instructions for education, medical care, and taxation.

In March 1999, NATO proposed the Rambouillet Agreement which would have granted Kosovo substantial autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

On 9 June 1999, NATO and the Federal Republic Yugoslavia reached the Kumanovo Agreement whereby Kosovo would be placed under United Nations administration.

The first regulation passed by the Special Representative of the Secretary General, on 25 July 1999, established that UNMIK was responsible for all legislative and executive authority in Kosovo.

That regulation also stated that all laws applicable in Kosovo prior to 24 March 1999 would continue to apply in Kosovo insofar as they do not conflict with "internationally recognized human rights standards and shall not discriminate against any person on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, association with a national community, property, birth or other status".

Its purpose was to offer the main political parties and ethnic communities in Kosovo an opportunity for direct input into the decision-making process of UNMIK.

A transitional cabinet, known as the Interim Administrative Council, was established with eight members, four of which were appointed by UNMIK and four by political parties in Kosovo.

[9][8] Resolution 1244 permitted the United Nations to establish and oversee the development of "provisional, democratic self-governing institutions" in Kosovo.

[10] The institutions included establishing a directly elected Assembly of Kosovo which would nominate a President and a Government led by a Prime Minister.

[11] Elections for the new assembly were held on 17 November 2001 and on 4 March 2002, Ibrahim Rugova was appointed as President[12] and a cabinet was formed led by Bajram Rexhepi as Prime Minister.

Unlike the case for East Timor, athletes from Kosovo did not take part as independents at the Olympic Games during the period of UN administration.

[50] After the conflict, PTK launched Vala, the largest mobile operator in the territory, with the assistance of Monaco Telecom.