Kosovo
Know your community: know your world.

Speaker Profile
(Basic Information…hometown, career, family, etc…)

Kosovo on the Map

Basic Information
Full name: Republic of Kosovo
Population: approximately 2.2 million
Capital: Prishtina
Largest city: Prishtina
Major language: Albanian and Serbian
Major religion: Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox
Life expectancy: 64
Monetary unit: Euro
GPD per capita: € 2,065 (about $2,316)
(Adapted from beinkosovo.com)

Significant Historical Events
• 12th century: Kosovo is the center of the Serbian empire.
• 1389: Turkish troops defeat the armies of Kosovo and Serbia,
seizing control of the region.
• 1912: During the Balkan Wars, Serbia regains control of Kosovo
from the Turks.
• 1946: Kosovo becomes part of Yugoslavia.
• 1990: Albanian legislators declare Kosovo independent from
Serbia.
• 1992: War erupts between ethnic groups.
• 1999: Nato intervenes to end the conflict.
• 2001: Kosovo holds its first election.
• 2006: A Serbian referendum declares that Kosovo is part of Serbia,
Kosovo later declares independence.
• 2011: Serbia and Kosovo’s governments talk and arrange border-
crossing regulations.
(Adapted from BBC News and reuters.com)

Famous Landmarks
• Sinan Pasha Mosque
• Visoki Dečani
• Monastery of the Patriarchate of Peć
• Cathedral of Blessed Mother Teresa
• Newborn monument
• Field of Blackbirds
• Skanderbeg Statue

Languages
Hello:
Bye:
Yes:
No:
Thank you:
You’re Welcome:
Please:
I love you:
How are you?:

Government
Structure:
Parliamentary Republic
Composed of Executive branch, single house legislature, and judicial branch
Current President:
Atifete Jahjaga
Prime Minister:
Hashim Thaci

Current Issues and Events
• Independence
• Gender Equality
• Serbian and Albanian ethnic relations
• European Union membership

Economics
Currency:
Euro
Main Exports:
Manufactured goods
Raw materials
Food
Fuel

Everyday Life
Typical day for a child:
Typical day for an adult:

Marriage and Gender Roles
Bridal Face Painting

Holidays and Festivals
• Independence Day: February 17th, Kosovars celebrate their
autonomy.
• Orthodox Christmas Day and Easter Morning: The Orthodox
church celebrates these holidays according to the Julian calendar,
so Christmas is January 7th while the date of Easter varies each
year.
• Sugar Feast: At the end of a month of fasting, Muslims enjoy a
sweet feast.
• Feast of Sacrifice: Muslims sacrifice an animal, such as a sheep,
goat, or cow, in commemoration of Abraham’s sacarifice of a ram
to Allah.
• Constitution Day: April 9th, the people of Kosovo celebrate the
creation of their constitution.

Sports
Most Popular:
Soccer
Handball
Volleyball
Basketball

Food
• Flija (layered pie with yogurt filling).
• Raznjici (skewered meat).
• Hajvar (red pepper paste).
• Cevapcici (charcoal-grilled minced meat).
• Sarma or japrak (vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and
rice).
• Pljeskavica (meat patties of beef and lamb).
• Llokuma (fried dough puffs served with yoghurt and garlic or
honey)
(Adapted from worldtravelguide.net)

Traditional Dance

Sources and Links
• http://beinkosovo.com/
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18328859
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/geos/kv.html
• http://www.mfa-ks.net/?page=2,1 (Kosovo’s ministry of foreign
affairs)
• http://www.kosovodiaspora.org