North Mitrovica[a] or North Kosovska Mitrovica,[b] is a town and municipality located in Mitrovica District in Kosovo. As of 2015, it has a population of 29,460 inhabitants.[1] It covers an area of 11 km2 (4 sq mi).
The northern part of Mitrovica (listenⓘ; formerly "Kosovska Mitrovica") was commonly referred to as "North(ern) Kosovska Mitrovica" (Serbian: Северна Косовска Митровица/Severna Kosovska Mitrovica), however, as of late, the northern part is referred to as simply North Mitrovica (Albanian: Mitrovica e veriut; Serbian: Северна Митровица/Severna Mitrovica).
The city served as the de facto capital of the North Kosovo region which refused to work with the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. Therefore, local Serbs formed the Assembly of Community of Municipalities, supported only by Serbia.
However, with the signing of the 2013 Brussels Agreement after the North Kosovo crisis, between the governments of Kosovo and Serbia, Serbia officially dropped its support for the assembly, agreeing to create a new Community of Serb Municipalities, an association of municipalities with Serb majority in Kosovo.[4] Its assembly will have no legislative authority and the judicial authorities will be integrated and operate within the Kosovo legal framework.[5]
Administration
The Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica has 19 deputies, one of whom is the speaker. There are currently 17 active councilors.[6]
According to the 2011 estimations by the Government of Kosovo, North Mitrovica has 3,393 households and 12,326 inhabitants.[7]
In 2015, according to a report by OSCE, the population of North Mitrovica Municipality stands at 29,460 inhabitants.[1]
Ethnic groups
The majority of North Mitrovica municipality is composed of Kosovo Serbs with more than 22,530 inhabitants (76.4%). Also, 4,900 (16.6%) Kosovo Albanians and 2,000 others live in the municipality.[1]
In North Mitrovica, according to the Update 2009, conducted by Kosovo Agency of Statistics, Serbs and other ethnic groups make up 92.97% or 11,459 inhabitants, while 7.03% or 867 were Albanians. Since North Mitrovica did not participate in population census conducted in April, 2011, the data is taken from the update 2008–2009 by Kosovo Agency of Statistics which is considered as official by Kosovo government. However, other different institutions have done other estimates that came up with different data.
Ethnic composition in North Mitrovica according to 2009 Update[8]
North Mitrovica currently represents the most important political, cultural, educational and health centres for Serbs in Kosovo. It is the largest urban area in Kosovo where Serbs form the ethnic majority. The University of Priština is located in the area, having relocated from Pristina to Mitrovica during the Kosovo War. In 2013, after November elections in Kosovo, North Mitrovica officially became a separate municipality.[10]
