Serbian street names replaced with Albanian ones aimed at deepening Albanian identity in North Mitrovica

The Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica today adopted a decision to rename 87 streets, replacing Serbian names with Albanian ones “with the aim of deepening Albanian identity on the urban map of the municipality,” Teve 1 reports.

According to the decision, some of the main streets to be renamed include the street stretching from the monument to Tsar Lazar to the main bridge over the Ibar—currently Tsar Lazar Street—which will be renamed Korzo.

The street from the eastern bridge in the Bosniak Mahala to the Technical School will be named Isa Boletini Street, while Liberation Street will be renamed 8 May Street.

The list of renamed streets also includes names of prominent figures, among them members of the former KLA, as well as historical and cultural figures such as Mother Teresa, Isa Boletini, Safet Boletini, Fatima Xhaka, Bishlim Ademi, Ali Ahmeti, Tefik Vokri, Elena Gjika, Ganimete Tërbeshi, Adem Mikullovci, Fehmi Agani, Adem Rrapa, Gazmend Brahimi, Sami Frashëri, Kadri Kadriu, Fan Noli, Sinan Bajrami, Hydajet Hyseni, Latif Berisha, and others.

The decision is said to aim at strengthening the Albanian identity of North Mitrovica’s urban landscape and honoring well-known historical and national figures, according to Teve 1.

Milan Radojevic, a member of the Presidency of the Serbian List, stressed that the decision was made without consulting the Serbian community, adding that after the upcoming local elections, citizens will clearly express their views on decisions adopted solely to the detriment of the Serbian people.