Leposavić | |
|---|---|
Town andmunicipality | |
 Church in Leposavić | |
 Emblem[1] | |
  Leposavić  Leposavić | |
| Coordinates:43°06′N20°48′E / 43.100°N 20.800°E /43.100; 20.800 | |
| Country | Kosovo |
| District | Mitrovica |
| Settlements | 73 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Zoran Todic[2] (SL) |
| Area | |
• Total | 539 km2 (208 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 5th in Kosovo |
| Elevation | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
• Total | 18,600 |
| • Density | 34.5/km2 (89.4/sq mi) |
| est. | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 43500 |
| Area code | +383(0)28 |
| Vehicle registration | 02 |
| Climate | Cfb |
| Website | Official site |
Leposavić (Serbian Cyrillic:Лепосавић,pronounced[lɛ̌pɔsaʋitɕ]), also known asLeposaviq orAlbanik[3] (Albaniandefinite form:Leposaviqi orAlbaniku), is a town and the northernmost municipality in theMitrovica District inKosovo. As of 2015, it has an estimated population of 18,600 inhabitants.[4] The municipality covers an area of 539 km2 (208 sq mi) which makes it the fifth largest in Kosovo, and consists of the town and 72 villages.
It is a part ofNorth Kosovo, a region with anethnic Serb majority. As per the2013 Brussels Agreement, the municipality is expected to become part of a proposedCommunity of Serb Municipalities.
Although historically known as Leposavić inSerbian and Leposaviq inAlbanian and being an area of primarily Serbian settlement, the town has been referred to as Albanik on some maps produced byKFOR since Kosovo'sdeclaration of independence.[5] Albanik is preferred over Leposaviq in Kosovar governmental documents translated into English.[6]
From 1877 to 1913 Leposavić was part ofKosovo vilayet. Leposavić, then a village, was the scene of fighting during theSerbian–Turkish Wars from 1876-1878.[7]
After theFirst Balkan War (1912), Kosovo was internationally recognised as a part of Serbia and northern Metohija as a part of Montenegro at theTreaty of London in May 1913. In 1918, theKingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later namedYugoslavia was established by the merging of the Western South Slavic states. Between 1929 and 1941, the region was administratively part of theZeta Banovina.
Lešak, Belo Brdo, Vračevo, Berberište were incorporated into the Leposavić municipality in 1953.[citation needed]
In the mid–1950s, the Assembly ofPR Serbia decided that the Leposavić municipality be ceded toAutonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija, after requests by the Kosovo leadership.[8] It had up until then been part of the Kraljevosrez, of which the population was wholly Serb.[8] After this, the number of Serbs drastically fell.[8] In 1959, Leposavić was incorporated into the province.[9][10]
After theNATO bombing of Yugoslavia, the political groupPokret za Leposavić ("Movement for Leposavić") was established, which sought to bring together those committed to cooperation and communication with the international community and the Albanians.[11]
Aside from the town of Leposavić, the municipality includes the following villages:
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 14,949 | — |
| 1953 | 17,015 | +2.62% |
| 1961 | 19,006 | +1.39% |
| 1971 | 18,044 | −0.52% |
| 1981 | 16,906 | −0.65% |
| 1991 | 16,395 | −0.31% |
| 2011 | 13,773 | −0.87% |
| Source:Division of Kosovo | ||
According to the 2011 estimations by theGovernment of Kosovo, Leposavić has 4,193 households and 13,773 inhabitants.[12] In 2015 report byOSCE, the population of Leposavić municipality stands at 18,600 inhabitants.[4] The municipality of Leposavić includes the town and 72 villages.
The majority of Leposavić municipality is composed ofKosovo Serbs with around 18,000 inhabitants (96.4%), while 350Bosniaks and 270Kosovo Albanians live in the municipality.[4] Kosovo Albanians live in the three southern villages ofBistrica e Shalës,Cerajë, and Koshutova.
The ethnic composition of the municipality of Leposavić, includingIDPs:[4]
| Ethnic group | 1991 est. | 1999 est. | 2015 est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbs | 14,306 | 15,365 | 17,935 |
| Bosniaks | 600 | 940 | 350 |
| Albanians | 1,101 | 902 | 270 |
| Romani,Ashkali | 163 | - | 65 |
| Others | 100 | - | - |
| Total | 16,291 | 17,207 | 18,600 |
Almost all industrial facilities are closed or work with reduced capacity. The unemployment rate is also high, and it has been considerably increased due to the closing down of most of the Trepča conglomerate facilities. The municipality is rich in natural, infrastructure and management, but current circumstances blocked all the potentials. The municipality adopted the Development Agenda 2006 – 2009, in cooperation withUnited Nations Office for Project Services and with the support ofUNMIK and the Italian Government, which foresees improvement in the local economy. However, with the current difficult situation, there is not much hope that the agenda will be properly implemented. The municipality, led by a very proactive chief executive officer, pays noteworthy efforts toward identifying and initiating projects ideas.[4]
There are three lead and zinc mines operating on the territory of Leposavić:Belo Brdo,Crepulje andCrnac.
The NGOCaritas Kosovo maintains a regional office in Leposavić.[13]
 |
The municipalityhas several monuments protected by theRepublic of Serbia as part ofthe cultural heritage list.
The following Serbian Orthodox churches are located in Leposavić:
The most important lead and zinc resources and appearances are located in the so called "Metallogenic Trepça strip", which lies in the northeastern part of Republic of Kosovo, ranging from Albanik (Leposavic) to Gllame (Gjilan). The strip length is over 80km, whereas its average width is around 30km.
On the maps produced by KFOR (Kosovo Forces, the collective name for the NATO forces stationed there), diplomacy and compromise are sought: each town in Kosovo has two names: one in Albanian, another in Serbian. Kosovo's capital is listed both as Prishtinë (Albanian) and Priština (Serbian). Not all of the town names match so closely, however. On some maps, for example, the town of Leposavic (Serbian) is listed not as Leposaviq, the Albanian equivalent, but as ' Albanik', which translates as 'Albanian'. Located in the far north of Kosovo and close to Serbian borders on three sides, Leposavic/Leposaviq/Albanik has historically been an area of Serbian settlement. The politics surrounding 'Albanik' is only one example of the multitude of ways that conflict between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo continues after the war has passed.
опћина Лепосавић (која је припојена САПК 1959. године)
| District of Ferizaj |  | |
|---|---|---|
| District of Gjakova | ||
| District of Gjilan | ||
| District of Mitrovica | ||
| District of Peja | ||
| District of Pristina | ||
| District of Prizren | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
