Gračanica (Kosovo Serb Enclave)

The Serbian enclave of Gračanica is centered around the Gračanica monastery, near Priština, Kosovo, Serbia.

The estimated population is 13,000. [ [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=05&dd=07&nav_id=50051 B92 - Russian aid distributed to Kosovo Serbs, 7 May 2008] ] Others suggest up to 30,000 being there, in 15 villages that make up the enclave. [ [http://www.unmikonline.org/press/2001/wire/IM1311pm.html UmnikOnline - Many Kosovo Serbs see elections as last hope for a better life, Nov. 13, 2001] ] In 1999 there were 120,000. [ [http://www.unmikonline.org/press/2001/wire/IM1311pm.html UmnikOnline - Many Kosovo Serbs see elections as last hope for a better life, Nov. 13, 2001] ]

It has been an enclave since the recent 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 Gracanica enclave is a major problem for Albanian extremists, as it contains rich farmland and is strategically located in the center of Kosovo, on major roads and near to Pristina. They view it as a potential threat, a den of Serbian intrigue. [ [http://www.balkanalysis.com/2004/06/07/kosovo-the-deadly-game-continues/ Balkan Analysis - Kosovo: The Deadly Game Continues, 6/7/2004] ]

There have been failed plans to make this into a municipality, along with some others. Another will be Partesh, a mainly Serb community near Gjilan/Gnjilane. The other three are the ethnic Turkish village of Mamusha, near Prizren and two ethnic Albanian communities, Junik in Decan/Dečani and Hani i Elezit in Kacanik. The plan was that the new municipal bodies will function for a trial period of 18 months. [ [http://www.bosnia.org.uk/news/news_body.cfm?newsid=2026 Bosnian Institute - Kosovo Decentralisation Plan Under Fire ] ]

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