Tropojë District
Encyclopedia
The District of Tropojë is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Kukës County
. It has a population of 16,260 (2010 estimate), and an area of 1,043 km². It is in the north of the country, and its capital is Bajram Curri
. The area is also known for its massive chestnuts forests and the Valbonë river, as well a rich folk culture. The district consists of the following communes:
The Government of Canada currently advises against non-essential travel to the district of Tropojë and the city of Bajram Curri, where police assistance and protection is limited [1].
The Government of Australia advises travelers to reconsider travel to the north-east region including the cities of Bajram Curri and Tropoje because of the risk of criminal violence and unexploded ordnance along the Albania-Kosovo border [2].
The UK government has issued a similar warning to travelers advising against all travel to the north east border areas (the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje) between Albania and Kosovo because of the risk of unexploded ordnance placed during the 1999 Kosovo crisis and the poor condition of the roads.
The British newspaper The Guardian reported in 1999 that in Bajram Curri, the family arsenal often takes up a whole room and typically includes anti-tank mines, hand grenades and rocket launchers [3].
In 1999, chaos and lawlessness led every foreign aid team except the OSCE to pull out of Tropoje in November [4].
Kukës County
The County of Kukës is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts Has, Kukës and Tropojë and its capital is Kukës. To the east, Kukës borders Kosovo, while in the extreme northwest it borders Montenegro and in the extreme southeast it borders the Republic of Macedonia...
. It has a population of 16,260 (2010 estimate), and an area of 1,043 km². It is in the north of the country, and its capital is Bajram Curri
Bajram Curri (town)
Bajram Curri is a town in Northern Albania on the border with Kosovo, in a remote, mostly mountainous region. Water from the mountains flow into the waters of the Valbona River, the latter being famous for having the clearest river water in Albania. The town is named after Bajram Curri, a national...
. The area is also known for its massive chestnuts forests and the Valbonë river, as well a rich folk culture. The district consists of the following communes:
- BujanBujanBujan is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania. It is known for hosting the 1943 Bujan Conference....
- BytyçBytyçBytyç is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania....
- FierzëFierzë, TropojëFierzë is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania....
- LekbibajLekbibajLekbibaj is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania....
- LlugajLlugajLlugaj is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania....
- MargegajMargegajMargegaj is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania. The Valbonë River valley and the village Valbonë are located in the municipality....
- TropojëTropojëTropojë is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania; near the border with Kosovo. It is home to the non-navigable Valbonë River.-Etymology:...
International Perception
Within Albania, the Tropoje district has had a long reputation as one of the wildest and most conservative regions in Albania, virtually out of control of every government in Tirana, whether royalist, communist, or republican.The Government of Canada currently advises against non-essential travel to the district of Tropojë and the city of Bajram Curri, where police assistance and protection is limited [1].
The Government of Australia advises travelers to reconsider travel to the north-east region including the cities of Bajram Curri and Tropoje because of the risk of criminal violence and unexploded ordnance along the Albania-Kosovo border [2].
The UK government has issued a similar warning to travelers advising against all travel to the north east border areas (the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje) between Albania and Kosovo because of the risk of unexploded ordnance placed during the 1999 Kosovo crisis and the poor condition of the roads.
The British newspaper The Guardian reported in 1999 that in Bajram Curri, the family arsenal often takes up a whole room and typically includes anti-tank mines, hand grenades and rocket launchers [3].
In 1999, chaos and lawlessness led every foreign aid team except the OSCE to pull out of Tropoje in November [4].