Montenegrins of Kosovo
Encyclopedia
Montenegrins are a South Slavic
people who are primarily associated with the Montenegro
. They form an ethnic minority
in Kosovo
, a disputed province of the Republic of Serbia.
The Montenegrins were primarily concentrated in the municipalities of Peć
, Pristina
, Kosovska Mitrovica
, Istok
, Dečani
, and Đakovica, until 1961. In the period from 1961–1981, the Montenegrins disappeared from 243 settlements, which, combined with the 760 settlements that had no Montenegrin inhabitants in 1961, gives a total of 1,003 settlements without a single Montenegrin inhabitant. As a result of conflicts with the ethnically dominant Albanians
, many Montenegrins moved from Kosovo to Montenegro or to Serbia proper.
The Republic of Kosovo has in December 2008 officially recognized the Montenegrin national minority in Kosovo.
in Kosovo, Montenegrins along with Serbs
were allegedly targeted, particularly in regions where they were more significantly outnumbered by Albanians. Responding to a survey presented to the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
, one respondent from Kosovo said, "Relations in the settlement were bad. Young Albanians started carrying nationalistic
symbols, spitting at the old Serbs and Montenegrins, beating up Serb and Montenegrin children, threatening, toting knives and chains."
Women from emigrant Serb and Montenegrin families surveyed claimed harassment and even physical assaults, especially when they went out without male accompaniment, even in bigger towns. According to many of the Kosovar respondents, Serbian and Montenegrin girls were not even safe at school. Because of the dangers lurking on the way to and from school, and in school itself, many girls dropped out.
There were also reports of economic discrimination
, with Serb and Montenegrin vendors being boycott
ed or Serbian and Montenegrin customers being treated rudely or unfairly by Albanian shop workers. Serb and Montenegrin men and women complained of unfair hiring policies and discrimination on the job, with, as one example, Serbs and Montenegrins being required to exhibit proficiency in Albanian
, while Albanian employees were not tested for multilingual skills. Montenegrins and Serbs reported being edged out of managerial positions through early retirement
or closing down of jobs—particularly in the fields of education, where it was claimed their services were less necessary with the dwindling number of Serb and Montenegrin children—through transferral to other jobs, deprivation of rights or outright dismissal.
South Slavs
The South Slavs are the southern branch of the Slavic peoples and speak South Slavic languages. Geographically, the South Slavs are native to the Balkan peninsula, the southern Pannonian Plain and the eastern Alps...
people who are primarily associated with the Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. They form an ethnic minority
Minority group
A minority is a sociological group within a demographic. The demographic could be based on many factors from ethnicity, gender, wealth, power, etc. The term extends to numerous situations, and civilizations within history, despite the misnomer of minorities associated with a numerical statistic...
in 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...
, a disputed province of the Republic of Serbia.
The Montenegrins were primarily concentrated in the municipalities of Peć
Pec
Peć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
, 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....
, Kosovska Mitrovica
Kosovska Mitrovica
Kosovska Mitrovica , is a city and municipality in northern Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous district....
, Istok
Istok
Istok or Istog is a town and municipality in the Peć district of north-western Kosovo. The town is the administrative capital of the municipality, which includes the town and the surrounding villages.-Name:...
, Dečani
Decani
Decani is the side of a church choir occupied by the Dean. In English churches this is typically the choir stalls on the south side of the chancel, although there are some notable exceptions, such as Durham Cathedral and Southwell Minster...
, and Đakovica, until 1961. In the period from 1961–1981, the Montenegrins disappeared from 243 settlements, which, combined with the 760 settlements that had no Montenegrin inhabitants in 1961, gives a total of 1,003 settlements without a single Montenegrin inhabitant. As a result of conflicts with the ethnically dominant Albanians
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...
, many Montenegrins moved from Kosovo to Montenegro or to Serbia proper.
The Republic of Kosovo has in December 2008 officially recognized the Montenegrin national minority in Kosovo.
Allegations of discrimination by Albanians
During the Albanian demonstrationsDemonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
in Kosovo, Montenegrins along with 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...
were allegedly targeted, particularly in regions where they were more significantly outnumbered by Albanians. Responding to a survey presented to the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most prominent academic institution in Serbia today...
, one respondent from Kosovo said, "Relations in the settlement were bad. Young Albanians started carrying nationalistic
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
symbols, spitting at the old Serbs and Montenegrins, beating up Serb and Montenegrin children, threatening, toting knives and chains."
Women from emigrant Serb and Montenegrin families surveyed claimed harassment and even physical assaults, especially when they went out without male accompaniment, even in bigger towns. According to many of the Kosovar respondents, Serbian and Montenegrin girls were not even safe at school. Because of the dangers lurking on the way to and from school, and in school itself, many girls dropped out.
There were also reports of economic discrimination
Economic discrimination
Economic discrimination is a term that describes a form of discrimination based on economic factors. These factors can include job availability, wages, the prices and/or availability of goods and services, and the amount of capital investment funding available to minorities for business...
, with Serb and Montenegrin vendors being boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
ed or Serbian and Montenegrin customers being treated rudely or unfairly by Albanian shop workers. Serb and Montenegrin men and women complained of unfair hiring policies and discrimination on the job, with, as one example, Serbs and Montenegrins being required to exhibit proficiency in Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
, while Albanian employees were not tested for multilingual skills. Montenegrins and Serbs reported being edged out of managerial positions through early retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
or closing down of jobs—particularly in the fields of education, where it was claimed their services were less necessary with the dwindling number of Serb and Montenegrin children—through transferral to other jobs, deprivation of rights or outright dismissal.
Demographics
- 1948 census - 28,050 (3.9%)
- 1953 census - 31,343 (3.9%)
- 1961 census - 37,588 (3.9%)
- PejëPecPeć or Pejë is a city and municipality in north-western Kosovo and Metohija - Serbia, and the administrative centre of the homonymous district. Governor of city is Ali Berisha....
- 12,701 (33.8%)
- Pejë
- 1971 census - 31,555 (2.5%)
- 1981 census - 27,028 (1.7%)
- 1991 census - 20,365 (1%)
- 1995 unofficial estimate - around 7,000 (0.3%)