Gracanica, Kosovo
Encyclopedia
Gračanica is a town and municipality
in central Kosovo
, and a Serb enclave
centered around the Gračanica monastery
, located ten kilometers away from Pristina
. The 1999 Kosovo War
and its aftermath transformed Gračanica from a sleepy village into an administrative center serving the needs of the 75,000 Kosovo Serbs living south of the Ibar River
. International banks, internet cafes, and outlets of Serbian governmental institutions are located amidst traditional farmhouses, giving Gračanica the feel of a semi-urban center dislocated into a rural community.
out of parts of the municipalities of Lipljan, Kosovo Polje
and Pristina
(City of Priština, according to the Serbian laws). Although the new municipality is primarily inhabited by Serbs, this move is not recognized by Serbian government which does not recognize Municipality of Gračanica.
The first municipal elections were held on 15 November 2009. Government of Serbia asked Serbs not to participate in the elections which it does not recognize, but many of them did. Serb Bojan Stojanović was elected Mayor. Town of Gračanica is also temporary seat of the administration of Serbia-recognized City of Priština
. The Serbia-sponsored local elections
were held on 11 May 2008. Those elections were boycotted by the Albanians who consider Kosovo independent from Serbia, so only Serbs participated. Radovan Ničić was elected Mayor.
. Differing estimates exist for the enclave as a whole, ranging from 13,000 to 11,006 inhabitants in the 15 villages that make up the enclave, and down from 120,000 in 1999. The enclave has a roughly ten-kilometer radius in which Serbs
enjoy freedom of movement and attempt to organize a meaningful life for themselves.
Ethnic composition of the municipality, as of 2010 is: Serbs - 85.7%, Albanians - 3.7% and Others - 10.6% (Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians).
since the end of the 1999 Kosovo War
, and is the largest and most secure Serbian enclave in central Kosovo. It runs along the Skopje
-Pristina road, and unites several neighboring Serbian villages. The enclave, which contains rich farmland and is strategically located in the center of Kosovo, on major roads and near Pristina, has been seen as a potential threat by some Albanian
nationalists, who view it as "a den of Serbian intrigue".
Gračanica has an elementary school, several small stores, an open-air market and a police station that employs ethnic Albanians and international police officers, who do not speak the Serbian language
. The health care center is located in the central part of the town, next to the UNMIK headquarters. An elementary school was reconstructed after the 1999 war. In December 2008, the Serbian government built a €90,000 postal and telecommunications building in Gracanica, and promised further investments.
Municipalities of Kosovo
A Municipality is the basic administrative division in Kosovo.-List of Municipalities:The first name is Serbian and the second one is Albanian:* Dečani / Deçan* Dragaš / Dragash* Đakovica / Gjakovë* Glogovac / Gllogovc * Gnjilane / Gjilan...
in central Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, and a Serb enclave
Kosovo Serb enclaves
Kosovo Serb Enclaves are the areas of Kosovo where Serbs form a majority, except for North Kosovo. While North Kosovo is connected to the rest of Serbia and mostly functions as a part of it, the enclaves are surrounded with areas of Albanian majority....
centered around the Gračanica monastery
Gracanica monastery
Gračanica is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in Kosovo. It was founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321. Gračanica Monastery was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia, and on 13 July 2006 it was placed on UNESCO's...
, located ten kilometers away from Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
. The 1999 Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
and its aftermath transformed Gračanica from a sleepy village into an administrative center serving the needs of the 75,000 Kosovo Serbs living south of the Ibar River
Ibar River
The Ibar is a river that flows through eastern Montenegro and Serbia, with a total length of . The river begins in the Hajla mountain, eastern Montenegro, passes through Kosovo and flows into the West Morava river, Central Serbia, near Kraljevo....
. International banks, internet cafes, and outlets of Serbian governmental institutions are located amidst traditional farmhouses, giving Gračanica the feel of a semi-urban center dislocated into a rural community.
Municipality
Municipality of Gračanica was formed in 2008 by the Government of KosovoGovernment of Kosovo
The Cabinet of Kosovo is the collection of Kosovo institutions that exercises executive authority in Kosovo. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and also includes the deputy prime ministers as well as various ministers.The Prime Minister is elected by the Assembly of the Republic...
out of parts of the municipalities of Lipljan, Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje
Kosovo Polje or Fushë Kosova is a town and municipality in the Pristina district of central Kosovo, at 42.63° North, 21.12° East, or approximately eight kilometres south-west of the capital Pristina...
and Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
(City of Priština, according to the Serbian laws). Although the new municipality is primarily inhabited by Serbs, this move is not recognized by Serbian government which does not recognize Municipality of Gračanica.
The first municipal elections were held on 15 November 2009. Government of Serbia asked Serbs not to participate in the elections which it does not recognize, but many of them did. Serb Bojan Stojanović was elected Mayor. Town of Gračanica is also temporary seat of the administration of Serbia-recognized City of Priština
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
. The Serbia-sponsored local elections
Kosovan local elections, 2008
The 2008 Serbian local elections in Kosovo were held on 11 May 2008, together with Serbia's parliamentary elections and elections in Vojvodina. UNMIK authorities have criticized Serbia organizing elections saying only the UN can organize elections in Kosovo...
were held on 11 May 2008. Those elections were boycotted by the Albanians who consider Kosovo independent from Serbia, so only Serbs participated. Radovan Ničić was elected Mayor.
Population
Gračanica proper is said to contain approximately 11,006 inhabitants, many of whom are Serbian refugees driven out of PristinaPristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
. Differing estimates exist for the enclave as a whole, ranging from 13,000 to 11,006 inhabitants in the 15 villages that make up the enclave, and down from 120,000 in 1999. The enclave has a roughly ten-kilometer radius in which Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
enjoy freedom of movement and attempt to organize a meaningful life for themselves.
Ethnic composition of the municipality, as of 2010 is: Serbs - 85.7%, Albanians - 3.7% and Others - 10.6% (Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians).
Infrastructure and position
Gračanica has been a Serb enclaveKosovo Serb enclaves
Kosovo Serb Enclaves are the areas of Kosovo where Serbs form a majority, except for North Kosovo. While North Kosovo is connected to the rest of Serbia and mostly functions as a part of it, the enclaves are surrounded with areas of Albanian majority....
since the end of the 1999 Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
, and is the largest and most secure Serbian enclave in central Kosovo. It runs along the Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
-Pristina road, and unites several neighboring Serbian villages. The enclave, which contains rich farmland and is strategically located in the center of Kosovo, on major roads and near Pristina, has been seen as a potential threat by some Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
nationalists, who view it as "a den of Serbian intrigue".
Gračanica has an elementary school, several small stores, an open-air market and a police station that employs ethnic Albanians and international police officers, who do not speak the Serbian language
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
. The health care center is located in the central part of the town, next to the UNMIK headquarters. An elementary school was reconstructed after the 1999 war. In December 2008, the Serbian government built a €90,000 postal and telecommunications building in Gracanica, and promised further investments.
Settlements in the municipality
- Badovac
- Batuse
- part of ČaglavicaČaglavicaČaglavica is a village and Serb enclave near Pristina, Kosovo.Most of the village is in the southern Pristina municipality, a minor part is located in Gračanica...
- Dobrotin
- Gračanica
- Donja Gušterica
- Gornja Gušterica
- Laplje SeloLaplje SeloLaplje Selo is a village/settlement in the Gračanica municipality of Kosovo, Serbia. Laplje Selo was part of the Pristina municipality before the Gracanica municipality was created....
- Lepina
- Livade
- Preoce
- Skulanevo
- SušiceSušiceSušice is a town in the Pilsen Region of the Czech Republic. It lies on the Otava River, some to the south of the regional capital of Pilsen.Sušice is also the seat of the Municipality with Extended Competence and with Commissioned Local Authority....
- Suvi DoSuvi DoSuvi Do is a neighborhood of the city of Niš, Serbia. It is located in Niš municipality of Palilula.-Location:Suvi Do is located in the south-east part of Niš. It is bordered on the north by the Car Konstadin Boulevard, and on the west by neighborhood of Trosarina.-History:Suvi Do used to be a...
- Radevo
- Ugljare