Overview of Kosovo Communities

Note: The communities are ordered in terms of their population size.
The content is still being updating. The Office for Community Affairs apologizes for any dated information.

Albanian community

Although the Albanian community is absolute the majority in Kosovo, in certain municipalities, it is in the minority and, as such, is entitled to protection as a ‘community’.

Geographical spread

The communities where Albanians are in the minority are as follows:

-    Leposavic/Leposaviq: 1% , spread over the three mono-ethnic villages of Koshutovë/Košutovo, Bistricë e Shalës/Šaljska Bistrica and Cerajë/Ceranje.
-    Štrpce/Shtërpcë: 24.5%, living in mono-ethnic villages.
-    Zubin Potok: 11.6%, concentrated in the east of the municipality, mostly in the village of Çabër/Cabra and the area surrounding the village.
-    Zvecan/Zveçan: 4.5%, concentrated primarily in the town of Zvecan/Zveçan, and in the villages of Boletin/Boljetin, Lipë/Lipa and Zhazhë/Žaža.

Culture and religion

The majority of Kosovar Albanians are Muslim, and there are some adherents of the Islamic dervish sect known as Bektashism. There is also a minority of Albanians who practice Roman Catholicism.

Language

Albanians in Kosovo speak standard Albanian. Albanian and Serbian are the two official languages of Kosovo.

Main issues faced

Political representation

In each of these four municipalities, the political representation of Albanians is a problem. After the Serb community boycotted the official elections of November 2007, the Special Representative of the Secretary General appointed some Albanians to the official institutions in Štrpce/Shtërpcë and Zubin Potok (5 and 2, respectively).

Security and freedom of movement

In Leposavic/Leposaviq, Albanians experience some restrictions in their freedom of movement, and Albanian representation in security forces in the area is 0%. In Zubin Potok, some small interethnic incidents have taken place over the last year, but the Albanian community feels free to travel within the village of Çabër/Cabra and the rest of Kosovo.

Economy

In Leposavic/Leposaviq, the rate of unemployment among Albanians is extremely high, at 90%. This is attributed to a lack of qualifications, a lack of access to information regarding jobs, and a lack of businesses operating in the municipality. In Štrpce/Shtërpcë, the rate of unemployment among Albanians is slightly lower, at 65-75%. In Zubin Potok, unemployment rates are similar, at 60%, and most Albanians are employed in the agricultural sector and in small businesses in the Mitrovicë/Mitrovica area. However, the economic situation in the municipality is particularly bleak; there is little investment and few employment opportunities. In Zvecan/Zveçan, there are no accurate figures for Albanian unemployment rates. In general, the main economic issues for the municipality are a lack of investment and an absence of private industry.

Education

In Leposavic/Leposaviq, Zubin Potok and Zvecan/Zveçan, each municipality has only one primary school that offers Albanian language education. Otherwise, all education is offered in Serbian, and falls under the authority of the Serbian Ministry of Education. For higher education, Albanian students must go to Prishtinë/Priština and Mitrovicë/Mitrovica. Thus, the main problem for the Albanian community in these municipalities is the lack of higher level education in Albanian.

Note that, in Shtërpcë/Štrpce, facilities for pre-school, primary and secondary education are in both Albanian and Serbian.

Access to health care

In general, the Albanian community has no difficulty accessing health care in any of the municipalities, although more complicated procedures may require travel to larger clinics in other areas.

Access to other public institutions

In Leposavic/Leposaviq, although all documents are translated into the official languages of Kosovo, the Albanian community does face some difficulties in accessing or communicating with public institutions and have occasional restrictions on their freedom of movement.

Serb community

Geographical spread

The majority of Kosovo Serbs live in the Serb-populated north or in majorit Serb municipalities and areas throughout the resto f Kosovo. Approximately a third of live in Serb-majority municipalities of Zvecan/Zveçan (95% of municipal population), Leposavic/Leposaviq (95%), Zubin Potok (89.4%) and in northern Mitrovicë/Mitrovica (90%). Serb make up the majority of the population in Novobërdë/Novo Brdo (40%) and Štrpce/Shtërpcë (75%).

The rest of the community members are spread in the villages throughout Kosovo, making up between 5% and 20% of the municipal population in:

Kamenicë/Kamenica – 14%, with around 200 living in the town of Kamenicë/Kamenica, and the rest residing on the periphery of the town or in mono-ethnic villages spread around the municipality, such as Ranilug/Ranillug, Kormiljane and Hajnovc/Ajnovce;
Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje- 7.02%, living mainly in the villages of Ugljare/Uglare, Kuzmin, Batuse/Batushe and Bresje;
Gjilan / Gnjilane – 12.8%, small communities residing in the town of Gjilan/Gnjilane, with the rest living in mono-ethnic villages in the municipality, such as Kusce/Kufce, Shillovë/Silovo, Donja Budriga/Budrigë e Poshtme and Partes;
Lipjan/Lipljan – 12.7%, mostly in the following Serb/Roma villages of Donja, Eperme/Gornja, Gusterica/Gushterice, Lepina/Lepine, Radevo/Radeve, Skulanevo/Skullan, Suvi Do/Suvidoll, Lagja e Re /Novo Naselje, Gracko, Dobrotin/Dobratin and Rubovc/Rabovce; and
Mitrovicë/Mitrovica– 20% (but 93% in the north), mostly concentrated in the city.
Obiliq/Obilic– 10.9%, living almost completely in the Serbian villages of Plemetin/Plemetina, Miloševo/Millosheve, Babin Most/Babimoc, Caravodice/Crkvena Vodica and Janjina Voda.
Prishtinë/Priština – 5.9%, settled mostly in Gracanica/Graçanicë, with small communities in some of the villages surrounding Gracanica/Graçanicë, such as LapljeSelo/Llapje Sello, Preoqe/Preoce, and some Serb families living in the Yu Program building of the city of Prishtinë/Priština;
Viti/Vitina – 7.68%.
Vushtrri/Vucitrn– 5.45%, mostly in the mono-ethnic village of Priluzje/Prelluzhë, and some smaller communities live in the villages of Gojbulje/Gojbulë, and Grace/Gracë.

Serbs make up between 0.01% and 5% of the municipal population in:

Rahovec/Orahovac – 2.5%, mainly either in the northern part of the town of Rahovec/Orahovac or in the mono-ethnic village of Velika Hoca/Hoçë e Madhe;
Klinë/Klina – 1.51%, mostly in the town of Klinë/Klina, but also live in the multi-ethnic villages of Videjë/Vidanje, Drsnik/Dresnik, Klinavc/ Klinavac, Bingjë, Grabcë and Berkovë/Berkovo;
Istog/Istok– 1.11%, concentrated primarily in the town of Istog/Istok, but they also live in the mixed villages of Dobrushë/Dobrusa, Kashic, Banje/Banja, Corolluk, Lubov, Llukafci Begut/Begov Lukavac, Tomoc/Tomance, Gurrakoc/Durakovac, Srbobran/Serbobran, Kovrage/Kovrage, Llukavc i Thatë/Suvi Lukavac, Veriq/Veric, Dubrava/Dubrave, Cerrcë, Zallq/Zac, Drejë, Oprashkë/Opraska, Kosh/Koš, Saradran, Kashicë, Osojane/Osojan, Crkolez/Cerkolez, Dragolevc/Dragolevac and Muzevina/Muzhevinë;
Pejë/Pec– 1%, concentrated primarily in the city of Pejë/Pec and Serbs in the villages of Bellopolje/Belo Polje, Cige/Siga, Brestovik, Goraždevac/Gorazhdevc;
Skenderaj/Srbica– 0.47%, living mainly in the town of Skënderaj/Srbica, others live in the mainly Serbian villages of Banja/Bajë and Grlo/Syriganë;
Prizren/Prizren– 0.25%, living mainly in the city of Prizren, in Zupa Podgor and the rural part of Prizren;
Podujevë/Podujevo – 0.02%, mainly near the border with Serbia.
Deçan/Deqani– 0.01%, mainly Serbian Orthodox clergy residing in the important Serbian Orthodox Visoki Decani Monastery; and
Ferizaj/Uroševac– 0.01%, concentrated in the villages of Bablak/Babljak, Srpski Babuš/Babushi Serb and Talinoc i Muhaxherëve/Muhadžer Talinovac.

Culture and religion

Today, the Serb community is the second largest community in Kosovo. Kosovo Serbs make up about 6% of the country’s overall population, which corresponds to roughly 114,000 people.

The Serb community in Kosovo is Orthodox Christian.

Language

The Serb community speaks Serbian. Serbian and Albanian are the two oficial languages of Kosovo

Main issues faced

Security and freedom of movement

Throughout Kosovo, the Kosovo Police (KP) and/or KFOR are responsible for security. The security situation is fairly stable, with no major inter-ethnic incidents reported

Economy

In municipalities where the Serb community represent over 40% of the population, the rate of unemployment within the community ranges from 40% and 75%; the exception seems to be Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, where unemployment among Serbs is 90% (the municipality has a particularly high rate of unemployment, even for domestic standards). It is thought that this is due to factors such as:

the lack of qualifications,
an absence of investment,
a lack of information on employment opportunities, and
the absence of private business and industry.

However, although these unemployment rates are undoubtedly high, they are not as elevated in areas where the Serb population is less concentrated. These higher levels of employment are almost certainly the result of job opportunities with the Serb municipal administrations.

In areas where the Serb community represents between 5% and 20% of the municipal population, the rate of unemployment among Serbs is somewhat higher, ranging from 75% to 90%; the exception here is Kamenicë/Kamenica where unemployment is estimated at between 55% and 65%. This is attributed to factors such as:

a lack of qualifications,
language issues,
an absence of investment in the development of small businesses and the agricultural sector,
a lack of employment opportunities, as well as information on existing opportunities, and
a lack of public companies.

Megjithatë, në komunat ku komuniteti serb përbën ndërmjet 0,01% dhe 5% të popullsisë së komunës norma e papunësisë në mesin e serbëve është veçanërisht e lartë, dhe sillet nga 90% në 100%. Në këto komuna, kjo vazhdimisht i atribuohet problemeve të përgjithshme siç janë mungesa e kualifikimeve dhe e përvojës së punës në mesin e pjesëtarëve të komunitetit, por edhe gjendjes së varfër të ekonomisë së Kosovës, në përgjithësi.

Education

In some municipalities, this is the primary source of education, with only one or two Albanian-language primary schools (Leposavic/Leposaviq, Zvecan/Zveçan, Zubin Potok) while in others it runs those outside official system to a full Albanian-language education system (Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, Štrpce/Shtërpcë).

In all these municipalities, Serbian-language education is offered at pre-school, primary and secondary level. Some municipalities even offer Serbian-language tertiary education (Leposavic/Leposaviq, Zubin Potok). The exception is Novobërdë/Novo Brdo, where public education is only available to primary level. For further education, most Serbs go to Gracanica/Graçanicë, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica or Vranje, Serbia. However, the lack of secondary education poses a serious problem.
In municipalities where Serbs make up between 5% and 20% of the population, parallel system, in Serbian-language education is available, usually to secondary level. However, for tertiary level education, Serbs generally need to travel outside their own municipality (to Graçanicë/Gracanica, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Prishtinë/Priština; or Bujanovac, Vranje or Nis in Serbia).

The main issues that face the Serb community in the context of education are listed as follows:

a lack of qualified teachers,
an absence of high-quality schools,
a lack of, or ineffective, transport,
a lack of equipment (school books, computers etc)
poor infrastructure, and
broader socio-economic problems.

In about half the municipalities where Serbs make up between 0.01% and 5% of the population, either no Serbian-language education is available (Ferizaj/Uroševac, Podujevë/Podujevo, Prizren/Prizren,), or education is only be available to primary level (Deçan/Deqani, Klinë/Klina). In these municipalities, the main problem for the Serb community is of course the lack of Serbian-language education.

Access to health care

Throughout Kosovo, members of the Serb community make use the parallel health care system and are able to communicate with health care professionals in their own language.The main issue is access, as treatment for more complicated ailments often requires a certain amount of travel; however, this problem is not confined to the Serb community.

Access to other public institutions

In most municipalities, the Serb community has little or no problem accessing public institutions, as they are able to communicate with them, and receive documentation in Serbian (as an official language of Kosovo).

Turk community

1. Geographical spread

The Turk community in Kosovo is concentrated primarily in the municipalities of Prizren (6.9%), Mitrovicë/Mitrovica (3%, but 0% in the north) and Istog/Istok (3.33%, although this figure includes Bosniaks).

There are also small Turk communities in:

-    Ferizaj/Uroševac – 0.02%, generally in the town of Ferizaj/Uroševac.
-    Gjilan/Gnjilane – 1.3%
-    Prishtinë/Priština – 0.7%
-    Vushtrri/Vucitrn – 0.45, mostly in the town of Vushtrri/Vucitrn.

2. Culture and religion

There has been a significant Turkish community in Kosovo ever since the Ottoman conquest of Kosovo in the 14th century. In general, this community has been stable, integrated within Kosovo society, and active in all aspects of cultural, social and political life.

Due to the lack of reliable statistics, the demographic data on Kosovo Turks has been subject of debate and distortion, and should be treated with circumspection. The Turk community is estimated at about 1% of the overall population of Kosovo, which corresponds to approximately 19,000 inhabitants

3. Language

The Turks in Kosovo speak a local Turkish dialect, but usually also speak Albanian and Serbian.

It is perhaps worth noting that in the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution, which granted Kosovo an autonomous status, Turkish was named one of the official languages in the province. However, in the first year of UNMIK administration, this official status was not recognised. The Turkish language has since regained its status as an official language in the municipalities where it was originally spoken.

4. Main issues faced

a. Political representation

Direct political representation of the Turkish community in municipal institutions is minimal:

-    Representation is strongest in Prizren/Prizren, where the Turk community is most concentrated. There, three (3) Turks have been elected to the Municipal Assembly, and the KDTP (Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party) is one of the four parties in the ruling coalition. Mr. Ercan Spat also represents the Turkish community as Deputy Chairperson of the Assembly.
-    In Prishtinë/Priština, one (1) Turk representing the Turkish party KDTP was elected to the Municipal Assembly, and in Ferizaj/Uroševac, one Turk is reported as working for the municipal government.

Of course, all communities are broadly represented by the municipal Committee on Communities and the Municipal Community Office; and in Gjilan/Gnjilane, the Chairperson of the Committee on Communities is Mr Kemal Sain, a member of the Turk community.

b. Security and freedom of movement

No major security concerns have been reported by the Turk community, which seems satisfied with the general performance of the security forces, including the KP.

Occasionally, a tense security situation in a given municipality can have a negative impact on the freedom of movement of all communities in a municipality (Mitrovicë/Mitrovica).

c. Economy

Information on unemployment rates within the Turk community is rather sparse. For those municipalities where there is information, figures vary quite widely, from an uncharacteristically low 35% (Prishtinë/Priština) to the more standard range of 70% (Mitrovicë/Mitrovica) to 90% (Ferizaj/Uroševac).

Depending on the municipality, communities are employed primarily in the agricultural sector (Gjilan/Gnjilane), small businesses, the private sector (Prishtinë/Priština), and in small numbers through the official or parallel public sectors.

The main problems facing communities in the relevant municipalities are listed as:

-    a lack of qualifications,
-    a lack of information regarding job opportunities,
-    language issues, and
-    the poor state of the economy as a whole.

d. Education

Municipalities with a larger Turk community offer some public education in Turkish (Gjilan/Gnjilane, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Prizren/Prizren). However, in some municipalities, this is only to primary level (Mitrovicë/Mitrovica), while in others the poor quality of secondary education is noted as a problem (Prizren/Prizren).

In more general terms, the main issues facing community members in accessing education are:

-    a shortage of good school books.
-    a lack of proper transport, and
-    poor educational infrastructure.

e. Access to health care

The Turk community has not reported any problems in accessing health care structures.

f. Access to other public institutions

In Gjilan/Gnjilane, where Turkish is an official language, not all official documents are published in Turkish. Community members have also experienced difficulties in communicating with public institutions, as some public officials do not speak Turkish.

In Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, community members face some problems in accessing public institutions due to a lack of freedom of movement and language issues.

Bosniak community

1. Geographical spread

The Bosniak community is most concentrated in Prizren, where it makes up about 10.01% of the municipal population, mainly in the city of Prizren, in Zupa Podgor and the rural part of Prizren, and in Dragash/Dragaš, where it makes up about 25% (although note that this figure includes the Gorani community), residing mainly in the Gora region.

In other municipalities, the Bosniak community is much smaller, making up between 0.02% and 4% of the municipal population:

-    Deçan/Deqani – 0.57%, most community members live in Dubovik/Dubovik, Shaptej/Šaptelj, Irzniq/Irznic, Gramaqel/Gramocelj, Deçan/Decani, Prapaqan/Papracane, Pozhar/Požar, Baballoq/Babaloc, Pemiste.
-    Ferizaj/Uroševac – 0.02%, community members generally live in the town of Ferizaj/Uroševac.
-    Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje – 0.08%.
-    Gjakovë/Dakovica – 0.02%, living in the town of Gjakovë/Dakovica.
-    Istog/Istok – 3.33% (note that this figure includes Turks).
-    Leposavic/Leposaviq – 3%, spread out over the entire municipality.
-    Mitrovicë/Mitrovica – 3%
-    Mitrovicë/Mitrovica (north) – 2%, in the north, most Bosniaks live in the city.
-    Obiliq/Obilic – 0.02%
-    Pejë/Pec – 4%, mainly concentrated in the city of Pejë/Pec and in the villages of Livosa, Vitomirica/Vitomiricë.
-    Prishtinë/Priština – 0.2% (note that this figure includes Goranis).
-    Skenderaj/Srbica – 0.02%, some community members live in the town of Skënderaj/Srbica, others live in the mainly Serbian villages of Banja/Bajë and Grlo/Syriganë.
-    Zvecan/Zveçan – 0.3%, living mainly in the town of Zvecan/Zveçan.

1. Culture and religion

Bosniaks are a predominantly Muslim Slav community. In Kosovo today, Bosniaks can be divided into two groups. The first consists of those who migrated to Kosovo at various times from Bosnia, Montenegro and, mostly, from the Sandzak region, especially after the end of Ottoman rule in the region. This group is concentrated around the Peja/Pec, Istog/Istok and Mitrovice/Mitrovica regions and, to a lesser extent, in Prishtinë/Pristina. The second group comprises those who traditionally lived predominantly in the regions of Prizren, Dragash/ Dragaš and Zupa.

The Bosniaks count their own numbers at around 57,000, which corresponds to about 3% of the total population of Kosovo. However, given that UNMIK’s 2007 figures indicate that all minority communities in Kosovo (excluding the Serbs) make up about 4% of the overall population, it is safe to assume that the figure is in reality much lower, probably between 1 and 2% of the population.

2. Language

The language of the Bosniak community is Bosnian.

The political break-up of Yugoslavia was accompanied by a linguistic split within what was previously known as ‘Serbo-Croat’. Three new languages emerged: Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian.

4. Main issues faced

a. Political representation

In the three municipalities where members of the Bosniak community represent over 4% of the municipal population, there is additional Bosniak representation within the municipal institutions.

-    In Dragash/Dragaš, four (4) members of the Bosniak community have been elected to office in the Municipal Assembly. The Municipal Community Office and the Committee on Communities are both headed by Mr. Uzair Hamza a representative of the Bosniak Community. According to the OSCE, 31.5% of the civil servants are community members.
-    In Prizren, four (4) Bosniaks have been elected to the Municipal Assembly and the Bosniak Coalition VAKAT party is one of four parties represented in the municipal ruling coalition. Mr. Cemailj Kurtiši (Coalition VAKAT) is second Deputy Chairperson for Communities.
-    In Pejë/Pec, two (2) Bosniak representatives were elected to the Municipal Assembly. The Municipal Community Office and the Committee on communities is chaired by the Bosniak representative Mr. Rustem Nurkovic. Mr. Nurkovic is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Municipal Assembly for communities.

Even in areas with smaller Bonsiak communities, there is some direct representation. In Istog/Istok, for example, one Bosniak representative was elected to the Municipal Assembly, and in Ferizaj/Uroševac, two Bosniaks are reported to work for the municipal government.

Of course, community interests are broadly represented in the municipal system in general terms through the Commission of Communities and the Municipal Community Office. Furthermore, in areas where communities constitute more than 10% of the municipal, general community interests will also be represented in the Municipal Assembly though a Deputy Chairperson for Communities, although note that this position can be occupied by a member of any community, and not necessarily the Bosniak community.

b. Security and freedom of movement

No major security concerns have been reported by the Bosniak community, which seem satisfied with the general performance of the security forces, including the KP. OSCE figures indicate that there is moderate, but sporadic, Bosniak representation in the latter (Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, 2 in 62; Leposavic/Leposaviq, 1 in 54).

Occasionally, a generally tense security situation can have a negative impact on the freedom of movement of all communities in a municipality (Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Obiliq/Obilić). There are also some reports of discrimination by the majority community, but they are vague and do not single out a particular target community (Dragash/Dragaš).

c. Economy

Information on unemployment rates within the Bosniak community is rather sparse, but a survey of available figures suggests that they range from 75% to 95% across the municipalities in which the community is present.

Depending on the municipality, communities are employed primarily in the agricultural sector (Dragash/Dragaš), physical labour (Gjakovë/Đakovica), small businesses and in small numbers through the public sector.

The main problems facing communities are listed as:

-    a lack of qualifications,
-    a lack of work experience,
-    language issues,
-    a lack of information regarding job opportunities,
-    difficulties accessing public institutions and private corporations,
-    the absence of large businesses/factories,
-    the lack of development in the industrial sector, and
-    the poor state of the economy as a whole.

Communities in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica and some of the surrounding municipalities have also noted the slow reopening of the Trepça mine in the north as one of the major factors affecting unemployment rates.

d. Education

In areas where the Bosniak community represents over 4% of the population, some Bosnian-language public education facilities are available.

In Prizren, for example, public education is offered at pre-school, primary and secondary levels in Albanian, Bosnian and Turkish. 3495 Bosniaks are enrolled in the official public education system, which employs 315 Bosniaks. However, the lack of high quality secondary education in Bosnian and Turkish is considered to be a problem.

In Pejë/Pec, the official Kosovo state educational facilities also offer both Albanian- and Bosnian-language education, at the primary and secondary level. There are 1001 Bosniaks enrolled in the official education system, which employs 90 Bosniaks.

In Istog/Istok, although the Bosniak community represents just 3% of the municipal population (with the Turkish community), there are two Bosnian-language primary and secondary schools.

The exception here is Dragash/Dragaš, where education is only available in Albanian and Serbian, despite the large Bosniak presence in the municipality (25%, with the Gorani community). It is estimated that around 70% of Bosniak/Gorani students attend the Kosovo education system.

It is also worth noting that, in Gjakovë/Dakovica, there was a Bosniak class of six to seven pupils from 1999-2001, but this was cancelled due to the low number of pupils and a lack of funding to pay teachers.

General problems facing communities in the relevant municipalities include:

-    low socio-economic status (for both minority and majority communities),
-    occasional lack of transport,
-    a lack of high quality schools,
-    poor educational infrastructure, and
-    a shortage of good school books.

e. Access to health care

There are no problems reported by the Bosniak community in accessing health care structures.

f. Access to other public institutions

In general, the Bosniak community does not seem to face problems in accessing other public institutions.

In Obiliq/Obilić, however, there have been some reports of discrimination where Albanian public officials have been reluctant to speak any language other than Albanian. Some members of communities have reported difficulties in physically accessing the public institutions, usually as a result of the lack of transport possibilities.

In Prizren/Prizren, there have been some reports that community members have faced difficulties when communicating with public institutions, although the problem is not pervasive.

Roma community

1. Geographical spread

In a few municipalities, the Roma community makes up between 2% and 5% of the municipal population:

-    Prizren/Prizren – 4.2%
-    Obiliq/Obilic – 2.4%, in the villages of Plemetin/Plemetina, Miloševo/Millosheve, Babin Most/Babimoc, Caravodice/Crkvena Vodica and Janjina Voda.
-    Pejë/Pec – 2%, mainly in the city of Pejë/Pec.
-    Mitrovicë/Mitrovica – 2% (5% in the north), mainly in refugee camps on the periphery of the city.

Elsewhere, the Roma community makes up 1% or less of the total municipal population:

-    Deçan/Deqani – 0.06%.
-    Ferizaj/Uroševac – 0.2%.
-    Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje – 0.35%, mainly live in the villages of Ugljare/Uglare, Kuzmin, Batuse/Batushe and Bresje.
-    Gjakovë/Dakovica – 0.35%.
-    Gjilan/Gnjilane – 0.4%, small communities in the town of Gjilan/Gnjilan.
-    Istog/Istok – 0.11%.
-    Kamenicë/Kamenica – 1%, mostly on the periphery of the Kamenicë/Kamenica town.
-    Kaçanik/Kacanik – 0.01%, mainly in the town of Kaçanik/Kacanik.
-    Klinë/Klina – 0.27%, mostly in the town of Klinë/Klina.
-    Leposavic/Leposaviq – 1% (RAE), mostly in the refugee camp in the town of Leposavic/Leposaviq.
-    Lipjan/Lipljan – 0.7%, mostly in the villages of Donja, Eperme/Gornja, Gusterica/Gushterice, Lepina/Lepine, Radevo/Radeve, Skulanevo/Skullan, Suvi Do/Suvidoll, Lagja e Re /Novo Naselje, Gracko, Dobrotin/Dobratin and Rubovc/Rabovce.
-    Malishevë/Mališevo – 0.01%, small community living in the town of Malishevë/Mališevo and the villages of Banja/Baje, Stapanic and Kijeve/Kijev.
-    Novobërdë/Novo Brdo – 0.5%, mainly in the villages of Bostan/Bostane, Prekovce/Prekoc.
-    Podujevë/Podujevo – 0.3%.
-    Prishtinë/Priština – 0.3%, in small communities in some of the villages surrounding Gracanica/Graçanicë such as LapljeSelo/Llapje Sello, Preoqe/Preoce; no Roma in the town of Prishtinë/Priština.
-    Rahovec/Orahovac – 0.5%, mainly in the northern part of the Rahovec/Orahovac town or in villages surrounding the town.
-    Shtime/Štimlje – 0.02%
-    Štrpce/Shtërpcë – 0.5%.
-    Suharekë/Suva Reka – 0.04%.
-    Viti/Vitina – 0.03%
-    Vushtrri/Vucitrn – 0.27%, mainly in the towns of Vushtrri/Vucitrn and Priluzje/Prelluzhë.
-    Zvecan/Zveçan – 0.1%.

2. Culture and religion

The Roma community traces its roots to the contemporary Indian state of Rajasthan. Roma speak mainly Romani as their mother tongue, and are usually bilingual in Albanian and/or Serbian. Roma are predominantly of the Muslim faith, although some identify themselves as Christian Orthodox. Throughout Kosovo, Roma often live in areas in majority populated by the Serb community, such as Gračanica/Graçanicë.

3. Language

The Roma in Kosovo generally speak either Romani or Serbian as their first language, although, in some predominantly Albanian municipalities, they speak Albanian (eg, Kaçanik/Kacanik, Malishevë/Mališevo).

As noted above, work is currently underway within the Roma community to develop a standardised Roma language.

4. Main issues faced

a. Political representation

There is no direct representation of Roma in any of the municipalities in which they reside. In a few municipalities, Roma are employed in very small numbers as civil servants for the municipal government (Rahovec/Orahovac, 1; Ferizaj/Uroševac, 2).

Of course, all communities are broadly represented by the municipal Committee on Communities and the Municipal Community Office, although in no municipality does a member of the Roma community chair these institutions. Furthermore, in areas where communities constitute more than 10% of the municipal population, general community interests will also be represented in the Municipal Assembly though a Deputy Chairperson for Communities; again, though, in no municipality is this position occupied by a member of the Roma community.

b. Security and freedom of movement

Members of the Roma community have reported some concerns in the municipalities of Obiliq/Obilič and Prishtinë/Priština. The majority of community members in the Obiliq/Obilič municipality face some restrictions in their freedom of movement, although it should be noted that not all members of the Roma community experience these problems.

In Prishtinë/Priština, some Roma community members have reported that they feel unsafe to travel to the town of Prishtinë/Priština.

c. Economy

Unemployment figures among the Roma community are especially high, even by domestic standards. In the municipalities listed above, unemployment rates among Roma range between 95% and 100%. The community often survives on money from family members abroad or on short-term manual work, or small-scale agriculture; a few are employed in the official in public sector.

This high rate of unemployment is attributed to the poor socio-economic position of the Roma, a lack of qualifications, a lack of information on job opportunities and institutional discrimination.

d. Education

Members of the Roma community attend education in Albanian and Serbian and, to a lesser extent, in the Romani language.

However, attendance among Roma children is lower than among other communities, and this has been attributed to social and culture factors, as well as to their poor economic situation.

e. Access to health care

Roma has access to health care structures.

f. Access to other public institutions

The Roma community has not reported any problems accessing other public institutions.

g. Other issues

In Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, the main issue for the RAE communities is a lack of property documents.

Ashkali community

1. Geographical spread

The largest Ashkali community is located in Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, where it makes up 9.57% of the municipal population (in the town of Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje, and the villages of Lismir/Dobridub, Nakarade/Nakarade.)

In other municipalities, the Ashkali community comprises between 0.02% and 2.5% of the municipal population:

-    Deçan/Deqani – 0.02%, mainly in the villages of Dubovik/Dubovik, Shaptej/Šaptelj, Irzniq/Irznic, Gramaqel/Gramocelj, Deçan/Decani, Prapaqan/Papracane, Pozhar/Požar, Baballoq/Babaloc, Pemiste.
-    Ferizaj/Uroševac – 2.2%, mainly in the Halit Ibishi/Halit Ibiši and Koçi Xoxe/Koce Zoze neighbourhoods of thr town of Ferizaj/Uroševac, and in the villages of Dubrave/Dubrava.
-    Gjakovë/Dakovica – 0.128%, with most (65%) concentrated in the city, and the remaining 35% living in small communities in the different villages in the municipality.
-    Gjilan/Gnjilane – 0.1%, mainly in the town of Gjilan/Gnjilane.
-    Klinë/Klina – 1.22%, most RAE community members live in the town of Klinë/Klina, but there are some living in almost in every village of the municipality.
-    Leposavic/Leposaviq – 1% (RAE), most live in the refugee camp in the town of Leposavic/Leposaviq.
-    Lipjan/Lipljan – 2%, most RAE community members live in the villages of Gusterica/Gushterice, Dobrotin/Dobratin, Lepina/Lepinë and Radevo/Radeve.
-    Mitrovicë/Mitrovica – 0.5%, living mostly in the Sitnickom neighbourhood.
-    Obiliq/Obilic – 1.4%, living mainly on the periphery of the municipality of Obiliq/Obilic.
-    Podujevë/Podujevo – 1.13%, mainlyin the town of Podujevë/Podujevo.
-    Prishtinë/Priština – 0.1%.
-    Prizren/Prizren – 1.3%.
-    Rahovec/Orahovac – 0.5%, most live in the northern part of the Rahovec/Orahovac town or in villages surrounding the town.
-    Shtime/Štimlje – 2.47%, most live in the city of Shtime/Štimlje or in the village of Gjyrkovc.
-    Skenderaj/Srbica – 0.18%, some community members live in the town of Skënderaj/Srbica.
-    Suharekë/Suva Reka – 0.74%, concentrated in the town of Suharekë/Suva Reka, and spread around seven villages in the municipality: Delloc/Delovce, Mushtisht/Mušutište, Dvoran/Dvorane, Sopi/Sopina, Leshan/Lešane, Reqan/Recane, Mohlan/Movlane.
-    Vushtrri/Vucitrn – 0.09%, most RAE communities live in the towns of Vushtrri/Vucitrn and Priluzje/Prelluzhë.
-    Zvecan/Zveçan – 0.1%, most other community members live in the town of Zvecan/Zveçan.

2. Culture and religion

The Ashkali community traces its roots to Persia. Ashkali speak mainly Albanian as their mother tongue. Members of this community are predominantly of the Muslim faith.

3. Language

The Ashkali community in Kosovo speak Albanian.

3. Main issues faced

a. Political representation

Direct political representation of the Ashkali community in municipal institutions is minimal:

-    In Ferizaj/Uroševac, one (1) Ashkali representative has been elected to the Municipal Assembly, and the Ashkalia Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDAK) is one of the four parties that make up the ruling coalition. As noted below, the Ashkali representative is also the Deputy Chairperson (for communities) of the Municipal Assembly. According to OSCE numbers there are 14 Ashkali working for the municipal government.

-    In both Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje and Lipjan/Lipljan, the Ashkali community was the only minority community to win one (1) seat in the Municipal Assembly. Note that, in the case of the latter, it was the Ashkali representative who was originally appointed as Deputy Mayor; however, after the Serbian community announced a willingness to cooperate with the municipal government, a Serb representative was appointed in his stead. This appointment was made even though the Serbian Liberal Party has no representatives in the Municipal Assembly, and was deemed necessary given that the Serbs constituted the largest minority community in the municipality.

Of course, all communities are broadly represented by a municipal Committee on Communities and a Municipal Community Office although note that, due to the low number of community members living in the municipality, there is no Municipal Community Office in Suharekë/Suva Reka. In some municipalities, the Committee on Communities is chaired by a member of the Ashkali community.

In areas where communities constitute more than 10% of the municipal population, general community interests will also be represented in the Municipal Assembly though a Deputy Chairperson for Communities; in Ferizaj/Uroševac, the position is occupied by the Ashkali representative in the Municipal Assembly. In Rahovec/Orahovac there is also a Deputy Mayor for Communities.

b. Security and freedom of movement

No security concerns have been reported by the Ashkali community, which seems satisfied with the performance of the security forces, including the KP.

c. Economy

Unemployment figures among the Ashkali community are especially high, even by domestic standards. In the municipalities listed above, unemployment rates among Ashkalis range between 95% and 100%. Some find employment in the public sector or in small businesses, but generally community members struggle to find work. One Ashkali leader has attributed this to the fact that the Ashkali community faces discrimination with regard to employment in public institutions.

The main problems facing communities in the relevant municipalities are listed as:

-    a lack of qualifications,
-    a lack of information regarding job opportunities,
-    language issues, and
-    a lack of investment in the development of small businesses and the agricultural sector
-    limited access to public institutions and corporations
-    the poor state of the economy as a whole.

d. Education

As the Ashkali community speaks Albanian, they experience few of the problems faced by other communities with regard to language of instruction, and are generally enrolled in the official public education system. However, access to education can be hampered by the poor socio-economic status of community members, and by cultural and social issues.

Of course, the Ashkali community is also subject to the same problems experience by other communities, such as:

-    poor infrastructure,
-    a lack of high quality secondary schools, and
-    a shortage of good school books.

e. Access to health care

The Ashkali community has not reported any problems in accessing health care structures.

f. Access to other public institutions

In general, the Ashkali community does not seem to face problems in accessing other public institutions.

In Obiliq/Obilic, however, there have been some reports of discrimination where Albanian public officials have reluctant to speak any language other than Albanian. Some members of communities have also reported difficulties in physically accessing the public institutions, usually as a result of the lack of transport possibilities.

g. Other issues

In Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, the main issue for the RAE communities is a lack of property documents.

Egyptian community

1. Geographical spread

In some number of municipalities, the Egyptian community makes up between 1% and 5% of the municipal population:

-    Gjakovë/Dakovica – 4.49%
-    Istog/Istok – 5.44%, concentrated in the town of Istog/Istok.
-    Klinë/Klina – 1.83%, mainly in the town of Klinë/Klina.
-    Pejë/Pec – 3%, mainly in the city of Pejë/Pec.
-    Prizren/Prizren – 2.20%, mainly in the city of Prizren, in Zupa Podgor and the rural part of Prizren.

Elsewhere, the Egyptian community makes up less than 1% of the municipal population:

-    Deçan/Deqani – 0.96%, mainly in Dubovik/Dubovik, Shaptej/Šaptelj, Irzniq/Irznic, Gramaqel/Gramocelj, Deçan/Decani, Prapaqan/Papracane, Pozhar/Požar, Baballoq/Babaloc, Pemiste).
-    Ferizaj/Uroševac – 0.03%, live primarily in the Halit Ibishi/Halit Ibiši and Koçi Xoxe/Koce Zoze neighbourhoods of the town of Ferizaj/Uroševac, or in the village of Dubravë/Dubrava.
-    Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje – 0.04%, mainly in the town of Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje.
-    Leposavic/Leposaviq – 1% (RAE), mainly in the refugee camp in the town of Leposavic/Leposaviq.
-    Lipjan/Lipljan – 0.1%, primarily in the villages of Gusterica/Gushtericë, Dobrotin/Dobratin, Lepina/Lepinë and Radevo/Radevë.
-    Suharekë/Suva Reka – 0.02%.

2. Culture and religion

The Egyptians consider themselves a group whose ancestry can be traced back to Egypt. They are predominantly Muslim.

3. Language

The Egyptian community in Kosovo mainly speaks Albanian.

4. Main issues faced

a. Political representation

Direct political representation of the Egyptian community in municipal institutions is minimal:

-    In Istog/Istok, the municipality with the largest concentration of Egyptians (5.44%), one (1) Egyptian representative was elected to the Municipal Assembly. As noted below, the Committee on Communities is also chaired by an Egyptian.
-    In Gjakovë/Dakovica, one (1) Egyptian representative was elected to the Municipal Assembly.
-    In Pejë/Pec, one (1) Egyptian representative was elected to the Municipal Assembly.

Of course, all communities are broadly represented by a municipal Committee on Communities and a Municipal Community Office although note that, due to the low number of community members living in the municipality, there is no Municipal Community Office in Suharekë/Suva Reka. In Istog/Istok, the Committee on Communities is chaired by Mr. Fazli Stollaj, a member of the Egyptian community, and in Gjakovë/Dakovica it is chaired by the Egyptian Mr. Luan Seferaj; in Klinë/Klina, the Municipal Community Office is chaired by Mr. Ramadan Beqiri, also a member of the Egyptian community.

In areas where communities constitute more than 10% of the municipal population, general community interests will also be represented in the Municipal Assembly though a Deputy Chairperson for Communities; however, at present, this position is not help by any member of the Egyptian community.

b. Security and freedom of movement

No security concerns have been reported by the Egyptian community, which seems satisfied with the performance of the security forces, including the KP.

c. Economy

Unemployment rates within the Egyptian community in the relevant municipalities are estimated at between 90% and 100%.

Depending on the municipality, communities are employed primarily in the agricultural sector, private companies, and in small numbers in the official public sector.

The main problems facing communities in the relevant municipalities are listed as:

-    a lack of qualifications,
-    a lack of information regarding job opportunities,
-    lack of investment in the development of small businesses and the agricultural sector, and
-    the poor state of the economy as a whole.

d. Education

As they are predominantly Albanian-speaking, pupils from the Egyptian community make use of the official public education system.

The main problems facing communities in the relevant municipalities are listed as:

-    low socio-economic status,
-    a lack of high quality schools,
-    poor educational infrastructure, and
-    an occasional lack of transport.

e. Access to health care

The Egyptian community has not reported any problems in accessing health care structures.

f. Access to other public institutions

The Egyptian community has not reported any problems in accessing other public institutions.

Gorani community

1. Geographical spread

The Gorani community in Kosovo is quite small, and is concentrated primarily in the municipality of Dragash/Dragaš, where (with the Bosniak community) it makes up about 25% of the municipal population, living mainly in the town of Dragash/Dragaš and surrounding villages.

In other municipalities, the Gorani/Bosniak community accounts for less than 3% of the municipal population:

-    Mitrovicë/Mitrovica – 3%
-    Prishtinë/Priština – 0.2%
-    Prizren/Prizren – 10.01%.
-    Viti/Vitina – 0.17% (Gorani alone)

2. Culture and religion

The Gorani are a Slav-speaking, Islamic ethnic group which, while closely related to the Bosniaks, considers themselves a separate ethnic group. The majority of the Gorani population resides abroad, in Serbia, Macedonia and Albania. Most Gorani in Kosovo are clustered in the southern part of the Dragash/Draga municipality, with smaller communities scattered in Prizren, Prishtinë/Priština, Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, Obiliq/Obilić, and Lipjan/Ljipljan. The Gorani have traditionally been migrant workers, which makes it difficult to estimate their numbers accurately. Additionally, due to the fact that in the pre-1999 censuses Gorani (together with Bosniaks and Torbesh) were generally categorised as "Muslim Slavs", it is difficult to gauge the exact size of the Gorani population and caution should be exercised as to the accuracy of any figure.

3. Language

The Gorani language, referred to as Našuski (roughly meaning ‘ours’) is similar to the language spoken in the western part of Macedonia and is different from other Slav dialects spoken in Kosovo, but is understood by Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian speakers. Gorani can be most properly identified as a dialect of the Macedonian language, although it varies considerably from standard literary Macedonian and even from village to village. The language has not been standardised and no descriptive scholarly work on the Gorani idiom is available. This, together with continuous fights between two political factions, one supporting the usage of Serbian and the other the usage of Bosnian, prevents the Gorani community from advancing a coherent demand for language rights.

4. Main issues faced

a. Political representation

There is no direct representation of the Gorani community in any of the municipalities in which its members reside.

Of course, all communities are broadly represented by the municipal Committee on Communities and the Municipal Community Office, although in no municipality does a member of the Gorani community chair these institutions. Furthermore, in areas where communities constitute more than 10% of the municipal population, general community interests will also be represented in the Municipal Assembly though a Deputy Chairperson for Communities; again, though, in no municipality is this position occupied by a member of the Gorani community.

b. Security and freedom of movement

No security concerns have been reported by the Gornani community, which seems satisfied with the performance of the security forces, including the KP.

However, in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica the general security situation can have an adverse affect on the freedom of movement of community members. In Dragash/Dragaš, cases of discrimination by the majority community have also been reported.

c. Economy

Information on employment among the Gorani community is quite sparse, but figures for Dragash/Dragaš and Mitrovicë/Mitrovicaindicate that the rate of unemployment is high, at about 90%-95%.

The main problems facing communities in the relevant municipalities are listed as:

-    a lack of qualifications,
-    a lack of information regarding job opportunities,
-    language issues, and
-    an absence of development in industry, and
-    the poor state of the economy as a whole.

d. Education

Members of the Gorani community have access to the education system.

e. Access to health care

The Gorani community has not reported any problems in accessing health care structures.

f. Access to other public institutions

The Gorani community has not reported any problems in accessing other public institutions.

Overview of Kosovo Communities

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