Insurgency
30-923: The Končulj Agreement is a colloquial name for two statements, the Basic UÇPMB statement signed about the Insurgency in the Preševo Valley , signed by the Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac (UÇPMB) and the Statement on conditional amnesty for members of the UÇPMB , signed by the Republic of Serbia within FR Yugoslavia in 2001. The Končulj Agreement is the first agreement related to Preševo, Medveđa, and Bujanovac. It resulted in
60-812: A checkpoint along the GSZ just after midnight of 26 May 2001. With the signing of the Končulj Agreement in May 2001, the former KLA and UÇPMB fighters next moved to western Macedonia where the NLA was established, which fought against the Macedonian government in 2001. Ali Ahmeti organized the NLA from former KLA and UÇPMB fighters from Kosovo, Albanian insurgents from the UÇPMB in Serbia, young Albanian radicals, nationalists from Macedonia, and foreign mercenaries. The acronym
90-422: A population of 43,302 people. Most of the municipality population live in rural areas, with only 27.74% living in the urban parts. The municipality of Bujanovac has 59 inhabited places. As of 2022 census, the municipality has 41,068 inhabitants. The majority of the municipality population according to the 2022 census are Albanians , encompassing 62% of the total population. During the 2011 census, undercounting of
120-680: The Ottoman Empire . Bujanovac – then Buyanofça – and its surroundings became part of the "Preševo area" of the Priština District and in 1905–1912 Bujanovac belonged to the 2nd category of borough covering 28 villages. After the Balkan Wars , the area belonged to Kumanovo District of the Kingdom of Serbia . After the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians , in 1918, Bujanovac became part of Vranje Oblast, which
150-683: The Serbian Empire included part of this region in the 12th century and most of it until the 14th century. Since the 15th century, the region was under Ottoman administration. It became part of Rumelia , as a historical term describing the area now referred to as the Balkans or the Balkan Peninsula when it was administered by the Ottoman Empire . After the Berlin agreement , signed in 1878, there were some administrative changes in
180-452: The UÇPMB , raised an armed insurgency in the Preševo Valley , in the region mostly inhabited by Albanians, with a goal to occupy these three municipalities from Serbia and join them to the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosova . Unlike in the case of Kosovo, western countries condemned the attacks and described it as the "extremism" and use of "illegal terrorist actions" by the group. Following
210-586: The overthrow of Slobodan Milošević on 5 October 2000, Vojislav Koštunica wanted the United States to reduce or disband the GSZ, with KFOR mediating a ceasefire on 24 November 2000. Earlier in March 2001, NATO allowed Yugoslav forces to take back the GSZ sector by sector in an attempt to decrease the amount of fierce fighting between the UÇPMB and Yugoslav troops. From 23 May 2001, some 400 UÇPMB forces surrendered to KFOR in an attempt to get amnesty from
240-528: The overthrow of Slobodan Milošević , the new Yugoslav government suppressed the violence by 2001 and defeated the separatists. NATO troops also helped the Yugoslav government by ensuring that the rebels do not import the conflicts back into Kosovo. Thereafter, the situation has stabilized even though large number of forces exist in this small municipality. In 2009, Serbia opened a military base Cepotina five kilometers south of Bujanovac, to further stabilize
270-865: The FRY. The insurgency continued until 1 June 2001 when it officially ended. The key provisions of the agreement were designed to do the following: At the same time, the Serbian side agreed to sign the Statement on conditional amnesty for members of the UÇPMB , which promised amnesty to UÇPMB members from 23 May 2001. Liberation Army of Pre%C5%A1evo, Medve%C4%91a and Bujanovac The Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac ( LAPMB ; Albanian : Ushtria Çlirimtare e Preshevës, Medvegjës dhe Bujanocit , UÇPMB ; Serbian : Ослободилачка војска Прешева, Медвеђе и Бујановца, ОВПМБ , romanized : Oslobodilačka vojska Preševa, Medveđe i Bujanovca , OVPMB )
300-685: The KLA was involved in frontal battle, with increasing numbers of Yugoslav security forces. Escalating tensions led to the Kosovo War in February 1998. After the end of the Kosovo War in 1999, a three-mile " Ground Safety Zone " (GSZ) was established between Kosovo ( governed by the UN ) and inner Serbia and Montenegro . Yugoslav Forces (VJ) units were not permitted there, and only the lightly armed Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs forces were left in
330-596: The UÇPMB took control of Gornja Šušaja , and were well received by the locals. On 19 January, in command of Bardhyl Osmani , raided VJ positions near Crnotince . On 20 January, the VJ launched an attack against the UÇPMB stronghold. The battle lasted for four days when VJ forces were forced to withdraw. On 13 May 2001, the VJ and Serbian police launched an attack on the UÇPMB in Oraovica before they entered Sector B. The fighting began at 6:10 am when Yugoslav troops entered
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#1732776084270360-480: The UÇPMB. The agreement stated that the VJ was allowed to enter the GSZ by 31 May 2001. At the same time, the Serbian side agreed to sign the Statement on conditional amnesty for members of the UÇPMB , which promised amnesty to UÇPMB fighters on 23 May 2001. After Shefket Musliu signed the Končulj Agreement, he stated: "I can tell you that we have handed over our weapons, and that the time has come to end
390-1225: The area. The exclusion zone included the predominantly Albanian village of Dobrosin , but not Preševo . Serbian police had to stop patrolling the area to avoid being ambushed. Ethnic Albanian politicians opposed to the KLA were attacked, including Zemail Mustafi , the vice-president of the Bujanovac branch of Slobodan Milošević 's Socialist Party of Serbia who was later assassinated. Between 21 June 1999 and 12 November 2000, 294 attacks were recorded. 246 in Bujanovac, 44 in Medveđa and 6 in Preševo. These attacks resulted in 14 people killed (of which six were civilians and eight were policemen), 37 people wounded (two UN observers, three civilians and 34 policemen) and five civilians kidnapped. In their attacks, UÇPMB used mostly assault rifles , machine guns , mortars and sniper rifles , but occasionally also RPGs , hand grenades , and anti-tank and anti-personnel mines . The UÇPMB included child soldiers . On 4 March 2000, around 500 UÇPMB fighters attacked
420-535: The area. Today, Bujanovac is located in the Pčinja District of southern Serbia. On 7 March 2017, the President of Albania Bujar Nishani made a historical visit to the municipalities of Bujanovac and Preševo, in which Albanians form the ethnic majority. Aside from the town of Bujanovac, the municipality includes the following settlements: According to the 2002 census, the municipality of Bujanovac had
450-616: The census units, owing to the boycott by most of the members of the Albanian ethnic community in the municipality of Bujanovac, was reported. The ethnic composition of the municipality is as follows: Based on the census results from 2022, the Bujanovac Municipality has 68.8% of Muslims majority and substantial 24.8% Christian Orthodox minority. Bujanovac has a number of football teams, the most notable being BSK Bujanovac, Kf Tërnoci and KF Besa. The following table gives
480-428: The city of Dobrosin . The battle resulted in one UÇPMB and one Serb fighter killed, while another 175 were displaced. On 21 November 2000, members of the UÇPMB attacked the city of Dobrosin and the surrounding villages. Heavy fighting resulted in the VJ retreating to Končulj , Lučane , and Bujanovac. After four policemen were killed and two wounded by the UÇPMB, the VJ retreated back to the GSZ. On 6 January 2001,
510-406: The city. At 7:00 am, the UÇPMB attacked Serbian police and fired three rockets towards Oraovica and VJ positions. Attacks from the UÇPMB stopped at 8:00 am. On 14 May 2001, the Yugoslav troops captured the city after the UÇPMB attacked again at 2:15 pm. On 21 May 2001, members of the UÇPMB signed the Končulj Agreement , which resulted in the full demilitarization, demobilization, and disarmament of
540-473: The exception of Gramada . They divided the sectors into three zones; North zone, Center zone, and South zone. The Yugoslav Army tried to take back some Serbian-held areas in Mid-November 2000, but they had to retreat following the kidnapping and killings of four policemen and two wounded policemen in the demilitarized zone, allowing the UÇPMB to take one many cities previously held by the FRY. After
570-482: The full demilitarization, demobilization, and disarmament of the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda, and Bujanovac. It also calls for integration of ethnic Albanians into governmental, civic, economic, and police structures, and support from the international community to implement the so-called Čović Plan. The agreement ended the conflicts that spilled over from Kosovo , with political representatives from
600-472: The geographical area known as Preševo Valley . It is also known for its source of mineral water and spa town Bujanovačka banja . Ethnically, Serbs are the largest ethnic group in the town, while the largest ethnic group in the municipality are Albanians . Kale-Krševica , located south of Ristovac , is an archaeological site of a 5th-century BC Ancient city of Macedon , thought to be Damastion . The Thracian Triballi and Paeonian Agrianes dwelled in
630-759: The local Albanians, Serbia, and Kosovo committing to demilitarization and demobilization of the UÇPMB. The agreement was witnessed by Sean Sullivan , who was the NATO Head of Office in the FRY . According to that agreement, the Yugoslav Army was to enter Sector B of the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ) by 31 May 2001. On June 12, 1999, one day after the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement , the Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac (UÇPMB)
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#1732776084270660-805: The region, with the Scordisci settling here after the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. The region was conquered by the Romans after 75 BC. It became part of the Roman propraetorial province Moesia in 29 BC (imperial from 27 BC). In 87 AD the region was re-organized into the Moesia Superior , which was a province of the Roman Empire . Medieval Serbian state like the Kingdom of Serbia or
690-600: The then freshly disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The 1,500-strong paramilitary launched an insurgency in the Preševo Valley from 1999 to 2001, with the goal of joining these municipalities to Kosovo . The EU condemned what it described as the " extremism " and use of "illegal terrorist actions" by the group. In 1992–1993, ethnic Albanians created the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) which started attacking police forces and secret-service officials who abused Albanian civilians in 1995. Starting in 1998,
720-716: The war. I hope now all children in the villages can go to school again ... I am ready at any moment to face justice, because I have always been convinced and continue to be so about my innocence and that of my ex-combatants." As the situation escalated, NATO allowed the VJ to reclaim the GSZ on 24 May 2001, at the same time giving the UÇPMB the opportunity to turn themselves over to the Kosovo Force (KFOR), which promised to only take their weapons and note their names before releasing them. More than 450 UÇPMB members took advantage of KFOR's "screen and release" policy, among them commander Shefket Musliu, who turned himself over to KFOR at
750-549: Was an Albanian militant insurgent group fighting for separation from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for three municipalities: Preševo , Medveđa , and Bujanovac , home to most of the Albanians in south Serbia , adjacent to Kosovo . Of the three municipalities, two have an ethnic Albanian majority, whilst Medveđa has a significant minority of them. The UÇPMB's uniforms, procedures and tactics mirrored those of
780-516: Was formed in 1921 after the Vidovdan Constitution . With administrative changes in 1929, it became part of Vardar Banovina , with the town of Skopje as capital. With the forming of Democratic Federal Yugoslavia , it was part of Socialist Republic of Serbia from 1943 to 1992. After World War II , in 1947, Bujanovac was established as one of 117 municipalities of Central Serbia , under its own name. From 1945 until 1992 Bujanovac
810-539: Was founded by Shefket Musliu , an auto mechanic from Končulj, who was the highest commander in the UÇPMB. The group began attacking Serbian civilians and police, with the goal of joining Preševo , Medveđa and Bujanovac into Kosovo, which escalated into an insurgency . Due to the FRY's inability to use any heavy weapons in the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ) and against the UÇPMB, the group expanded and occupied all villages related to Sectors B and C east, with
840-472: Was organized into five brigades, each with their own commanders: Bujanovac Bujanovac ( Serbian Cyrillic : Бујановац , pronounced [bǔjanɔvats] ; Albanian : Bujanoc ) is a town and municipality located in the Pčinja District of southern Serbia . As of the 2022 census, the municipality has a population of 41,068. Situated in the South Morava basin, it is located in
870-557: Was part of Socialist Republic of Serbia , within SFR Yugoslavia . In 1992, the Albanians in the area organized a referendum in which they voted that Bujanovac, Preševo and Medveđa should join the self-declared assembly of the Republic of Kosova . However, no major events happened until the end of the 1990s. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia , and nearby Kosovo War which lasted until 1999, between 1999 and 2001, an ethnic Albanian paramilitary separatist organization,
900-536: Was the same as the KLA's in Albanian. Another Albanian paramilitary organization Albanian National Army (ANA, AKSh) also had former UÇPMB fighters. The group is associated with FBKSh (National Front for Reunification of Albanians), its political wing. The group participated in attacks against Macedonian forces with the NLA. After the NLA disbanded, the ANA later went and operated in the Preševo Valley . The UÇPMB
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