Abstract:
Preševo Valley and northern Kosovo are two serious points of geopolitical crisis in the Balkans, for which it is necessary to find a long-term quality solution. Recently, some “new” and “old” ideas that could provide a solution for the crisis in the region have resurfaced. One of the frequently mentioned ideas is an “exchange of territories”, between Preševo Valley in Serbia and the northern area of the Republic of Kosovo. The majority of people in Preševo Valley are Albanians, while northern Kosovo is mostly inhabited by Serbs. Both regions have geostrategic and geopolitical importance for Kosovo and Serbia, but also in a wider sense. The Pan-European Corridor X, which passes through Preševo Valley, is one of the most important transport corridors in Southeast Europe, and northern Kosovo is also rich in mineral and water resources, such as the Trepça [serb.: Trepča] mine (lead, zinc and silver ore) and the Ujmani [serb.: Gazivoda] hydroelectric facility, which are of vital importance for the industrial and economic development of Kosovo. The general lack of recognition of Kosovo’s independence by the Serbs in northern Kosovo has led to aspirations for the secession and subsequent rapid accession of northern Kosovo to Serbia. Furthermore, ideas of making Preševo Valley part of Kosovo have also been promoted. The aim of this research is to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of territorial exchange ideas regarding Preševo Valley and northern Kosovo in light of the recent geopolitical circumstances in the Balkans.