ISSN 2411-9598 (Print) ISSN 2411-4103 (Online) European Journal of Language and Literature Studies May-August 2015 Volume 1 Issue 2 90 Albanians in Presevo Valley and Their National Rights Dr.Sci.Veton Zejnullahi Abstract The situation of Albanians in Serbia, especially in three municipalities bordering with Kosovo-Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvegja, which are known as the Presevo Valley region remains the same even after the Kosovo war and after the war that took place in this region between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian fighters LAPMB. Since in this region the majority of the population is Albanian, then the object of study will be focused in the situation of the population there and the challenges facing it in everyday life and problems they encounter, starting from the most basic ones like: education, information, health, use of language, use of national symbols and many other problems. Presevo Valley throughout the stages of its history has always been marked with the various tensions depending on the circumstances, which have escalated to armed conflicts as happened during World War II when fighters of this area contributed greatly to the fight against fascism and Nazis, but even in the latter case when the war took place between government forces and ethnic Albanian Serbian organized around LAPMB. We will also see that the Albanian population in this region is indigenous to the early centuries of history being part of the Ancient Dardania and despite many invaders, Albanian population managed to preserve its national identity. Therefore the aim of this paper is to show the state of Albanians in the Presevo Valley focusing on historical, political, economic, demographic, cultural, educational, health, national rights - the symbols and language, information, migration and many problems other faced by the people of this region. Keywords: Presevo Valley, national rights, war of LAPMB, Albanians, World War II Introduction Albanian Presevo Valley region in southern Serbia itself includes three Albanian municipalities Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, in ancient times, the region of the Presheva Valley has been under Roman domination. Until the IX-th century, the region of the Presheva Valley remained under Bizant occupation. From the second half of the IX-th century until the X- th century the region was occupied by the Bullgarien kingdom. From the XI-th century until the XII-th century Presheva Valley was under the Bizant occupation. At the end of the XII-th century, due to the Serbian documents, the region was invaded by The Nemaniq until the year 1455. During this period of time, autochthonous population pertained Christian religion propagated by Roman Empire. Presheva during the period of Turkish dominance in the Balkan was included to Shkupi territory. The national structure in this area was almost with 100% Albanians. A massive part of Albanians from the North-East area of Arberia (Vranja, Leskovci, Nishi, Piroti, Surdulica etc) were displace during proclamation of Serbia independence from Turkish Empire. As a proof (evidence) of this displacement is the fact that many families and people of the villages nowadays can still tell about their origin from the North-East area of Arborio. After the Congress of Berlin, Kazaa Presevo, from 1878 belonged to the Pristine Sandzak Vilayet of Kosovo 1 and it included Nahinë of Bujanovac and Trgoviste until 1912, when Presevo was included in Serbia. In the Serbian Kingdom, Croats and Slovenes, established in 1918, Presevo district belonged to the Banovina of Vardar Skopje, Kumanovo district until 1946, when Presevo, arbitrarily and without the will of the Albanian people and the purpose of assimilation and narrowing of ethnic surface was divided from Kosovo and Macedonian Albanians, in order to put control from the top, from the district of Vranje and Leskovac at times of the former Yugoslavia. 2 1 Skender Latifi, Rrugëtimi nëpër Luginë të Preshevës, Preshevë, 2006 2 www.kosovalindore.com