Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo
Encyclopedia
Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo (Serbo-Croatian
: Socijalistička Autonomna Pokrajina Kosovo, Социјалистичка Аутономна Покрајина Косово; Albanian
: Krahina Socialiste Autonome e Kosovës) was one of the two socialist autonomous area
s of the Socialist Republic of Serbia
incorporated into the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
from 1974 until 1990. It was a predecessor of the modern day Kosovo
.
received more and more autonomy and self-government within Serbia and Yugoslavia during the 1970s, and its name was officially changed in 1974 to Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo ("and Metohija
" was removed because it was not used by the Kosovo Albanians and "Socialist" added to further show the Socialist
ideal of then's SFRY) as per the Constitutions of SFRY and SR Serbia, when SAP Kosovo also gained its own Constitution. The Province of Kosovo gained the highest officials, most notably Presidency and Government, and gained a seat in the Federal Yugoslavian Presidency (including veto
power on the federal level) which equated it to the states of SR Serbia.
The local Albanian-dominated ruling class had been asking for recognition of Kosovo as a parallel republic to Serbia within the Federation, and after Josip Broz Tito
’s death in 1980, the demands were renewed. In March 1981, Albanian students protested demanding independence of Kosovo. Subsequently the situation rapidly escalated into extremely violent mass-riots across the province that spread across 6 major Kosovo cities and included over 20,000 Albanian dissidents. The Yugoslav authorities harshly persecuted and contained the civil unrest. Emigration of non-Albanians increased and ethnic tensions between Albanians and non-Albanians greatly increased, with violent inner-attacks, especially aimed at the Yugoslavian officials and representatives of authority.
Slobodan Milošević
became the leader of the Serbian communists in 1986, and then seized control over Kosovo and Vojvodina
. This can especially be seen in the 1987 rift in Kosovo, which became the final turnout of possibilities of peace between Albanians and Yugoslavia. On 28 June 1989, Milošević led a mass celebration with hundreds of thousands (almost one million) Serbs in Gazimestan
on the 600th anniversary of a 1389 Battle of Kosovo
. Milošević's Gazimestan speech
, which marked the beginning of his political prominence, was an important part of the events that contributed to the ongoing crisis in Kosovo. The ensuing Serbian nationalist
movement was also a contributing factor to the Yugoslav Wars
.
In 1989, Milošević revoked the autonomy of Kosovo, returning it to the pre-1974 Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija status, which was passed by the Kosovo Parliament on 28 September of 1990.
, which was part of the League of Communists of Serbia
and part of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia
.
The Constitution
of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo was the highest juridical act of the province.
Chairmen of the Executive Council of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:
Presidents of the Assembly of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:
Presidents of Presidency of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: Socijalistička Autonomna Pokrajina Kosovo, Социјалистичка Аутономна Покрајина Косово; 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...
: Krahina Socialiste Autonome e Kosovës) was one of the two socialist autonomous area
Autonomous area
An autonomous area or autonomous entity is an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or freedom from an external authority. Typically it is either geographically distinct from the rest of the country or populated by a national minority. Countries that include autonomous areas are often...
s of the Socialist Republic of Serbia
Socialist Republic of Serbia
Socialist Republic of Serbia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is a predecessor of modern day Serbia, which served as the biggest republic in the Yugoslav federation and held the largest population of all the Yugoslav...
incorporated into the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
from 1974 until 1990. It was a predecessor of the modern day 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...
.
History
The Autonomous Province of Kosovo and MetohijaAutonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (1946-1974)
The Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija was an autonomous province of Serbia, within the larger federation of Yugoslavia from 1963 to 1974, when it was replaced by the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo...
received more and more autonomy and self-government within Serbia and Yugoslavia during the 1970s, and its name was officially changed in 1974 to Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo ("and Metohija
Metohija
Metohija , is a large basin and the name of the region covering the southwestern part of Kosovo.It encompasses three of the seven districts of Kosovo, namely the historical :* District of Peć * District of Đakovica * District of Prizren...
" was removed because it was not used by the Kosovo Albanians and "Socialist" added to further show the Socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
ideal of then's SFRY) as per the Constitutions of SFRY and SR Serbia, when SAP Kosovo also gained its own Constitution. The Province of Kosovo gained the highest officials, most notably Presidency and Government, and gained a seat in the Federal Yugoslavian Presidency (including veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
power on the federal level) which equated it to the states of SR Serbia.
The local Albanian-dominated ruling class had been asking for recognition of Kosovo as a parallel republic to Serbia within the Federation, and after Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
’s death in 1980, the demands were renewed. In March 1981, Albanian students protested demanding independence of Kosovo. Subsequently the situation rapidly escalated into extremely violent mass-riots across the province that spread across 6 major Kosovo cities and included over 20,000 Albanian dissidents. The Yugoslav authorities harshly persecuted and contained the civil unrest. Emigration of non-Albanians increased and ethnic tensions between Albanians and non-Albanians greatly increased, with violent inner-attacks, especially aimed at the Yugoslavian officials and representatives of authority.
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
became the leader of the Serbian communists in 1986, and then seized control over Kosovo and Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
. This can especially be seen in the 1987 rift in Kosovo, which became the final turnout of possibilities of peace between Albanians and Yugoslavia. On 28 June 1989, Milošević led a mass celebration with hundreds of thousands (almost one million) Serbs in Gazimestan
Gazimestan
Gazimestan is the name of a monument commemorating the historical Battle of Kosovo, situated about 6-7 kilometres north-northeast of the actual battlefield, known as Kosovo Field , or in Albanian: "Fushë Kosovë/Fushë Kosova"...
on the 600th anniversary of a 1389 Battle of Kosovo
Battle of Kosovo
The Battle of Kosovo took place on St. Vitus' Day, June 15, 1389, between the army led by Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, and the invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the leadership of Sultan Murad I...
. Milošević's Gazimestan speech
Gazimestan speech
The Gazimestan speech was a speech given on 28 June 1989 by Slobodan Milošević, then President of Serbia. It was the centrepiece of a day-long event to mark the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo, which spelled the defeat of the medieval Serbian kingdom at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, as...
, which marked the beginning of his political prominence, was an important part of the events that contributed to the ongoing crisis in Kosovo. The ensuing Serbian nationalist
Serbian nationalism
Serbian nationalism refers to the ethnic nationalism of Serbs. Originally arising in the context of the general rise of nationalism in the Balkans under Ottoman rule, under the influence of Serbian linguist Vuk Stefanović Karadžić and Ilija Garašanin....
movement was also a contributing factor to the Yugoslav Wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
.
In 1989, Milošević revoked the autonomy of Kosovo, returning it to the pre-1974 Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija status, which was passed by the Kosovo Parliament on 28 September of 1990.
Demographics
According to the 1981 census (the only census taken during the existence of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo), the population of the province numbered 1,584,441 people, including:- 1,226,736 AlbaniansAlbaniansAlbanians 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...
(77.4%) - 236,526 SerbsSerbsThe 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...
(14.9%) - 58,562 MuslimsMuslims by nationalityMuslims by nationality was a term used in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as an official designation of nationality of Slavic Muslims. They were one of the constitutive groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
(3.7%) - 34,126 Roma (2.2%)
- 12,513 TurksTurkish peopleTurkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
(0.8%) - 8,717 CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
(0.6%) - 2,676 YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
(0.2%) - 4,584 others (0.2%)
Politics
The only political party in the province was League of Communists of KosovoLeague of Communists of Kosovo
The League of Communists of Kosovo was the Kosovo branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, the sole legal party of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1990.-History and background:...
, which was part of the League of Communists of Serbia
League of Communists of Serbia
The League of Communists of Serbia was the Serbian branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, the sole legal party of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1990. Under a new constitution ratified in 1974, greater power was devolved to the various republic level branches. In the late 1980s, the party was...
and part of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia , before 1952 the Communist Party of Yugoslavia League of Communists of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croatian: Savez komunista Jugoslavije/Савез комуниста Југославије, Slovene: Zveza komunistov Jugoslavije, Macedonian: Сојуз на комунистите на Југославија, Sojuz na...
.
The Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo was the highest juridical act of the province.
Prime Ministers
Chairman of the Executive Council of the People's Committee of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:- Fadil HoxhaFadil HoxhaFadil Hoxha was an Albanian politician.-Early life:...
, 1945 - 1953
Chairmen of the Executive Council of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:
- Fadil HoxhaFadil HoxhaFadil Hoxha was an Albanian politician.-Early life:...
, 1953 - 1963 - Ali Shukri, 1963 - May 1967
- Ilija Vakić, May 1967 - May 1974
- Bogoljub Nedeljković, May 1974 - May 1978
- Bahri Oruçi, May 1978 - May 1980
- Riza Sapindžija, May 1980 - May 1982
- Imer Pula, May 1982 - 5 May 1984
- Ljubomir Neo Borković, 5 May 1984 - May 1986
- Namzi Mustafa, May 1986 - 1987
- Kaqusha JashariKaqusha JashariKaqusha Jashari born 1946 in Prishtina, Kosovo. She is a Kosovo Albanian politician and engineer and a member of the Assembly of Kosovo on the Democratic Party of Kosovo list since 2007. She is of Montenegrin descent on her mother's side....
, 1987 - May 1989 - Nikolla Shkreli, May 1989 - 1989
- Daut Jashanica, 1989
- Jusuf ZejnullahuJusuf ZejnullahuJusuf Zejnullahu was a Kosovar politician. He was active in Kosovo politics throughout the 1980s, and occupied a number of important economic positions within the province and Yugoslavia as a whole...
, 4 December 1989 - 5 July 1990
Presidents
Chairman of the People's Liberation Committee of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:- Mehmed Hoxha, 1 January 1944 - 11 July 1945
Presidents of the Assembly of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:
- Fadil HoxhaFadil HoxhaFadil Hoxha was an Albanian politician.-Early life:...
, 11 July 1945 - 20 February 1953; 24 June 1967 - 7 May 1969 - Ismet Saqiri, 20 February 1953 - 12 December 1953
- Đorđije Pajković, 12 December 1953 - 5 May 1956
- Pavle Jovićević, 5 May 1956 - 4 April 1960
- Dusan Mugoša, 4 April 1960 - 18 June 1963
- Stanoje Akšić, 18 June 1963 - 24 June 1967
- Ilaz Kurteshi, 7 May 1969 - May 1974
Presidents of Presidency of the Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo:
- Xhavit Nimani, March 1974 - 1981
- Ali Shukriu, August 1981 - 1982
- Kolë Shiroka, 1982 - May 1983
- Shefqet Nebih Gashi, May 1983 - May 1985
- Branislav Skembarević, May 1985 - May 1986
- Bajram Selani, May 1986 - May 1988
- Remzi Kolgeci, May 1988 - 5 April 1989
- Hysen Kajdomçaj, 27 June 1989 - 11 April 1990
See also
- KosovoKosovoKosovo 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...
- VojvodinaVojvodinaVojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
- SAP Vojvodina
- History of KosovoHistory of KosovoIn antiquity, the Kosovo region in the Balkans was known as Dardania and from the 1st century AD it formed part of the Roman province of Moesia. From c. 700 to 1455, the Kosovo region became part of the Bulgarian Empire, the Byzantine Empire and then the Serbian medieval states, notably Raška...
- Constitutional status of KosovoConstitutional status of KosovoThe political status of Kosovo is the subject of a long-running political and territorial dispute between the Serbian government and Kosovo's largely ethnic-Albanian population, stemming from the breakup of Yugoslavia at the end of the 20th century, and the ensuing Yugoslav wars...
- Socialist Republic of SerbiaSocialist Republic of SerbiaSocialist Republic of Serbia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is a predecessor of modern day Serbia, which served as the biggest republic in the Yugoslav federation and held the largest population of all the Yugoslav...
- Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaSocialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaThe Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...