Leposavić (, ), also known as Leposaviq or Albanik ( or Albaniku), is a town and the northernmost municipality in the Mitrovica District in Kosovo. As of 2015, it has an estimated population of 18,600 inhabitants. The municipality covers an area of which makes it the fifth largest in Kosovo, and consists of the town and 72 villages.
It is a part of North Kosovo, a region with an ethnic Serb majority.
Name Although historically known as Leposavić in Serbian and Leposaviq in Albanian and being an area of primarily Serbian settlement, the town has been referred to as Albanik on some maps produced by KFOR since Kosovo's declaration of independence. Albanik is preferred over Leposaviq in Kosovar governmental documents translated into English.
History
From 1877 to 1913 Leposavić was part of Kosovo vilayet. Leposavić, then a village, was the scene of fighting during the Serbian–Turkish Wars from 1876-1878.
Yugoslavia (1918–92) After the First Balkan War (1912), Kosovo was internationally recognised as a part of Serbia and northern Metohija as a part of Montenegro at the Treaty of London in May 1913. In 1918, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, later named Yugoslavia was established by the merging of the Western South Slavic states. Between 1929 and 1941, the region was administratively part of the Zeta Banovina.
Lešak, Belo Brdo, Vračevo, Berberište were incorporated into the Leposavić municipality in 1953.
In the mid–1950s, the Assembly of PR Serbia decided that the Leposavić municipality be ceded to Autonomous Region of Kosovo and Metohija, after requests by the Kosovo leadership. It had up until then been part of the Kraljevo srez, of which the population was wholly Serb. After this, the number of Serbs drastically fell. In 1959, Leposavić was incorporated into the province.
Modern After the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, the political group Pokret 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.
Settlements Aside from the town of Leposavić, the municipality includes the following villages:
Bare Belo Brdo Beluće Berberište Bistrica Bistrica e Shalës Borova Borčane Brzance Cerajë Crveni Crnatovo Ćirkoviće Desetak Dobrava Donje Isevo Donji Krnjin Dren Duboka Gnježdane Gornji Krnjin Graničane Grkaje Guvnište Gulije Ibarsko Postenje Jarinje Jelakce Jošanica Kajkovo Kamenica Kijevčiće Koporiće Kostin Potok Košutica Košutovo Kruševo Kruščica Kutnje Lazine Leshak Lozno Majdevo Mekiniće Miokoviće Mioliće Mošnica Ostraće Plakaonica Planinica Popovce Potkomlje Pridvorica Rvatska Rodelj Rucmance Seoce Slatina Sočanica Tvrđan Trebiće Trikose Ulije Vitanoviće Vračevo Vuča Zabrđe Zavrata Zemanica Zrnosek
Demographics
According to the 2011 estimations by the Government of Kosovo, Leposavić has 4,193 households and 13,773 inhabitants. In 2015 report by OSCE, the population of Leposavić municipality stands at 18,600 inhabitants. The municipality of Leposavić includes the town and 72 villages.
Ethnic groups The majority of Leposavić municipality is composed of Kosovo Serbs with around 18,000 inhabitants (96.4%), while 350 Bosniaks and 270 Kosovo Albanians live in the municipality. Kosovo Albanians live in the three southern villages of Bistrica e Shalës, Cerajë, and Koshutova.
The ethnic composition of the municipality of Leposavić, including IDPs: Ethnic group 1991 est. 1999 est. 2015 est.Serbs14,30615,36517,935Bosniaks600940350Albanians1,101902270Romani, Ashkali163-65Others100--Total16,29117,20718,600
Economy The municipality's economy mostly depends on agriculture and small trade businesses.
There are three lead and zinc mines operating on the territory of Leposavić: Belo Brdo, Crepulje and Crnac.
The NGO Caritas Kosovo maintains a regional office in Leposavić.
Cultural monuments
The municipality has several monuments protected by the Republic of Serbia as part of the cultural heritage list.
The following Serbian Orthodox churches are located in Leposavić: Sočanica Monastery Vračevo Monastery Church of Cosmas and Damian Church of St. Basil of Ostrog
Gallery
See also North Kosovo Community of Serb Municipalities District of Mitrovica Kosovska Mitrovica District
References
Sources
External links
Official website