Dragaš

Dragaš
Municipality and city
Macedonian: Dragash (Драгаш)
Albanian: Sharri / Dragash
Serbian: Dragaš (Драгаш)
Bosnian: Dragaš

Dragaš municipality within the District of Prizren
Dragaš

Location of the town of Dragaš in Kosovo

Coordinates: 42°03′N 20°39′E / 42.050°N 20.650°E / 42.050; 20.650
Country Kosovo[lower-alpha 1]
District District of Prizren
Government
 • Mayor Salim Jenuzi
Area
 • Total 430 km2 (170 sq mi)
Elevation 1,050 m (3,440 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 34,241
 • Density 80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 22000
Area code(s) +381
Car plates 04
Website Municipality of Dragaš

Dragaš, also known as Sharri and Dragash (Macedonian: Dragash (Драгаш); Albanian: Sharri or Dragash; Bosnian: Dragaš; Serbian: Драгаш, Dragaš), is a town and municipality in the Prizren district of southern Kosovo.[lower-alpha 1] The population of the town is 1,098, that of the whole municipality is estimated at 34,241 (2014).[1] The Albanian name Sharri is a reference to the Šar Mountains (in Albanian Sharr). The Serbian name Dragaš comes from medieval Serbian lord Constantine Dragaš.[2]

Geography

The territory of the Dragaš municipality lies in the northern latitude of 41 52' 30" to 42 09' 03" and longitude of 20 35' 39" to 20 48' 26". The whole territory is surrounded by the Šar Mountains, then Koritnik Mountain, mountain Gjalic and Cylen in the direction of Prizren. Only one part of the territory in Prizren direction is hilly with a relatively slight slope by which this territory is connected with Prizren basin and through Prizren with the world.

History

Dragaš was named after Serbian medieval noble family of the same name which served Dušan the Mighty (r. 1331-1355) and Uroš the Weak (r. 1355-1371).

From 1877 to 1913, Dragash was part of Kosovo Vilayet

From 1929 to 1941, Dragaš was part of the Vardar Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

The Dragaš municipality was created by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) by merging the two former municipalities of Gora and Opolje.

Municipality

Demographics

The municipality is split into the regions of Opolje and Gora. Most of the Gorani live in Gora, whilst Albanians make a majority in both regions. There also a significant number of Bosniaks in the municipality.

OSCE estimates say the following:[1]

According to the census in 2011 there is a significant Bosniak community in Dragaš, numbering around 4,100 people.

Economy

The main employers in the area are the Municipality, UNMIK police, and private companies as “KUK Commerc”, “Meka” and former state-owned enterprises.[1]

All major local companies were formerly state-run and, as elsewhere in Kosovo, are currently under the responsibility of KTA. The original UNMIK strategy towards these public enterprises consisted of carrying out a process of ‘commercialisation’. This process was believed to be the best way to revive the enterprises, although no foreign investors decided to invest.[1]

Infrastructure

The municipality is mountainous and therefore has related infrastructural problems (e.g. problematic access to some villages during winter season). Its infrastructure was in a state of serious disrepair before the war, due to a combination of harsh winters and state neglect. Roads, in particular, (Zhur–Dragaš; Dragaš-Brod; Dragaš- Restelica) require urgent improvement for the social-economic development of the area. Bus connections between Dragaš town and the Opoja area continue to improve and the services to Gora are organized by the two OSCE-SIMF buses donated to the municipality. There is a free school bus service provided by the municipality along Gora routes. Taxi services exist but are largely unaffordable for the population. OSCE through SIMF/ ECSF funds supported also the rehabilitation of the Heath House.

Mobile coverage is also improving. Water supply is ensured in all villages.[1]

Symbol

The emblem of Dragaš includes an image of the Šarplaninac dog.[3]

Annotations

  1. 1 2 Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has received formal recognition as an independent state from 111 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 OSCE "municipal profile of Dragaš" (PDF)., June 2006. Retrieved on 21 February 2008.
  2. ↑ Cawley, Charles, Serbia, Medieval Lands database, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy,
  3. ↑ Municipal Assembly of Dragaš Archived July 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.. – Retrieved on 20 November 2008.

Sources

Coordinates: 42°04′N 20°39′E / 42.067°N 20.650°E / 42.067; 20.650

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