Serbian Community Research Articles

Homeland in Romanian children’s literature written in the Diaspora

Romanian children’s literature has always been situated at the crossways of cultural ideologies. The Romanian texts for children lack innocence due to the implicit level of cultural, social, and historical knowledge they mirror at different epochs. In this paper I investigate how literary texts for children written in Romanian communities living abroad present the idea of homeland. I examine literary works written by three contemporary Romanian writers living in Romanian communities in Serbia: Ana Niculina Ursuleanu, Radu Flora and Slavco Almăjan. My selection includes books published in between 1970 and 2010: Cu Soarele-n Creștet [With the sun on the head], (2006); Soare, Bună Dimineața! [Sun, good morning!], (1998); Cărările Nilului [The paths of the Nile], (2008); Piticii au Uitat să Crească [The dwarfs forgot to grow up], (1987); Pianul cu Păienjeni [The piano with spiders], (1991); Când Vine Primăvara [When spring comes], (1970). In my analysis, I focus upon the role of settings in building the image of an eternal Romanian homeland that transcends the national borders. Thus, I discuss three main types of settings that shape the fiction imagined by the proposed authors, related to the following environments: landscape, family, and school. My analysis considers the theory of landscape proposed by Mitchell (2002, p. 5) in Landscape and Power. According to it, landscape implies the interaction between the human, the natural, the self and the other. For each novel, I analyse the role of settings within the literary texts. I explore Radu Flora’s novel in connection with two elements of setting, landscape and school, respectively. In Ana Niculina Ursulescu’s books I look at the bond between family and landscape, while in Slavco Almăjan’s literary work I highlight the importance of landscape in building the image of childhood. These functions are classified according to a sophisticated range, from the purpose of clarifying the conflict or its function as a symbol (in When Spring Comes by Radu Flora), to the task of mood intensifier attributed to setting (in Balul Strugurilor [The party of grapes] by Slavco Almăjan). My conclusions validate the idea that literary texts constantly build and convey an image of the Romanian identity and a sense of belonging to the Romanian homeland as marked by borders. I focus on nostalgia and irony as the main feelings the authors transmit about the image of homeland. On the one hand, the image of homeland in the literary works written by these three writers implies nostalgia, a feeling conveyed through an adult’s perspective of childhood. On the other hand, sometimes, as it happens in the case of the novel When Spring Comes, the narrator adopts a humorous perspective on history and human interactions among characters. As a final remark, I show that the selection of these three settings (landscape, family and school) creates the image of homeland in connection with a nationalist ideology. More precisely, children’s books reinforce the idea of unity between the two Romanian speaking communities (in Romania and Vojvodina) that share common cultural values. The representation of homeland reiterates a history-oriented ideology and legitimates the assimilation of nation to childhood.

Understanding the Sustainable Development of Community (Social) Disaster Resilience in Serbia: Demographic and Socio-Economic Impacts

This paper presents the results of quantitative research examining the impacts of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the sustainable development of community disaster resilience. The survey was carried out utilizing a questionnaire distributed to, and subsequently collected online from, 321 participants during January 2024. The study employed an adapted version of the ‘5S’ social resilience framework (62 indicators), encompassing five sub-dimensions—social structure, social capital, social mechanisms, social equity and diversity, and social belief. To explore the relationship between predictors and the sustainable development of community disaster resilience in Serbia, various statistical methods, such as t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multivariate linear regression, were used. The results of the multivariate regressions across various community disaster resilience subscales indicate that age emerged as the most significant predictor for the social structure subscale. At the same time, education stood out as the primary predictor for the social capital subscale. Additionally, employment status proved to be the most influential predictor for both social mechanisms and social equity-diversity subscales, with property ownership being the key predictor for the social beliefs subscale. The findings can be used to create strategies and interventions aimed at enhancing the sustainable development of resilience in communities in Serbia by addressing the intricate interplay between demographic characteristics, socio-economic factors, and their ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from different disasters.

Popis 2022 - stanovništvo Srbije prema nacionalnoj pripadnosti

Ethno-demographic and ethno-statistical studies of the population of Serbia according to nationality are based on the census as the most important official source of data, which is held every ten years and provides information on demographic trends, the number and characteristics of all ethnic communities in Serbia, but also provides a database for the adoption of necessary measures population, social, economic, minority and other state policies important for the stable, even and prosperous development of the country. The paper highlights the impact of various factors on national declaration, as well as the buoyancy of this feature, whose subjectivity has influenced large fluctuations in the number of individual ethnic communities, as well as the accuracy and possibility of comparing census results. Changed census methodology, new methodological solutions, criteria, classifications, definitions, often as a result of national ideology, political decisions and social circumstances, had a great immediate impact on the changes in the population dynamics of all, and especially some nationalities. The paper analyzes the national composition of the population of Serbia (without Kosovo and Metohija) according to the data of the last census from 2011, as well as the significant demographic changes that occurred in the period between the two censuses (2011-2022), while looking at the similarities and differences between the regions. of Serbia (Belgrade region, Vojvodina region, Šumadija and Western Serbia region and Southern and Eastern Serbia region). The focus of the research is on the most important factors that influenced the change in the ethnic structure, such as differences in the rates of natural increase and migration balance according to nationality, but also ethnic alternation under the influence of numerous non-demographic, namely political, social, economic, religious, psychological and other factors. The different population dynamics of ethnic communities, i.e. the increase in the number and share of some, while at the same time the decrease in the number of others, determined the direction and intensity of changes and affected the national composition of the population, as well as the process of ethnic homogenization or dispersiveness of individual nationalities, which created and changed everything the ethnic image of Serbia.

The funeral laments (pohrebné place) of the Slovak community in Serbia

The funeral laments (pohrebné place) of the Slovak community in Serbia

SRPSKI ISELjENICI U JUŽNOJ AMERICI NAKON DRUGOG SVETSKOG RATA I NjIHOV ODNOS PREMA NOVIM VLASTIMA U JUGOSLAVIJI

Many Serbian royalists and various opposition groups to the Communist Party of Yugoslavia administration sought safety in South America following World War II. While many of them settled in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Argentina, the majority of them escaped to Argentina. Numerous clubs and organizations were established in those nations, such as the “Srpski klub̊ˮ from Sao Paolo, the “Srpski patriotski blok̴ˮ from Montevideo, the Argentian Serbs society ˮVelika Srbijaˮ from Buenos Aires, and others.These groups published publications and pamphlets, debated domestic politics, and conducted meetings. Diplomacy from Socialist Yugoslavia closely followed the operations of those groups. The Serbian community in Argentina started the journal “Srpska zastavaˮ with the goal of uniting all Serbs.Although they disapproved of the “bad experienceˮ of Yugoslavia, they also lauded Serbia for its medieval history and early 20th-century modern sovereignty. Despite not holding an official position in any emigrant group, Milan Stojadinović, the former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, was a prominent figure among Serbian emigrants in Argentina. Rather, he served as a consultant for both the biggest newspaper in the country, “Srpska zastavaˮ, and the group “Velika Srbijaˮ. Although the efforts of Serbian expatriates in South America following World War II did not result in significant changes in their home country, they occasionally posed a challenge to Titoʼs regimeʼs propaganda efforts.

Optical Frequency Comb Generation and Further Advances From the Photonics Community in Serbia and Western Balkans

Optical Frequency Comb Generation and Further Advances From the Photonics Community in Serbia and Western Balkans

Identifying infodemic sources of exposure, its effects, response capacities and needs in Serbia

Abstract Background Serbia has secured adequate quantities of COVID-19 vaccines and ensured continuous access and delivery. However, vaccine uptake has remained a major public health issue due to the infodemic - an overwhelming amount of information, making it difficult for the population to make the right decisions regarding their health. This study aimed to identify the sources of exposure to the infodemic, its effects, existing capacities, and the needs of public health practitioners in Serbia. Methods Infodemic management (IM) training and discussions were organized for public health (PH) professionals, civil society organizations (CSOs), and academia in three different regional Institutes of Public Health in Serbia. After learning about the basic terms in IM, the participants discussed infodemic topics in small groups using the “gallery walk” method. Facilitators wrote down their answers and moderated the discussion. Results Overall, 57 PH practitioners participated in the lessons, discussions, and the “gallery walk”. Participants identified media, including social media, public figures, healthcare personnel and community members as the main sources of infodemic exposure. The most recognized topics were infectious diseases, natural disasters, immunization, nutrition, and environmental issues. Participants identified the reduced trust in health authorities, lower compliance with health recommendations, and lack of satisfaction in both patients and healthcare workers as possible effects of the infodemic. Most participants underlined the lack of support regarding the production of high-quality health information and science communication. Conclusions The PH community in Serbia has identified infodemic and infodemic management as a priority in the future and has already conducted activities that are part of the Framework for managing infodemics. Their work could be supported by organizing a network for the exchange of materials, knowledge, and experience. Key messages • PH professionals identified media, public figures, healthcare personnel, and community members as sources of infodemic exposure. • The main infodemic effects are reduced trust in health authorities, lower compliance with health recommendations, and lack of satisfaction in patients and healthcare workers.

SUPPORTING PROGRAMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Serbia is among few countries that have two ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Ministry of Rural Welfare, active in solving actual problems linked to living and working conditions in rural space. Establishment of cooperatives, or joined action of rural population could enable developmental processes in rural areas. Both ministries offer certain programs of public support focused on cooperatives advancement or establishment, and indirectly securing the competitiveness and sustainability of cooperative members (i.e. mainly family farms). The main research goal is observing the economic impact of the one of program support lines of the Ministry of Rural Welfare directed to development of cooperatives, and further prevention of disappearing of rural communities in Serbia. Analysis shows that mentioned support has turned over the previous trend of shutting down the cooperatives into situation when over 1,100 new agricultural cooperatives have been established in last several years. Additionally, derived results initiate certain recommendations, useful both for policy makers and cooperatives.

The Constitutional And Legal Position Of National Minorities In Kosovo: Ahtisaari Package And The Privilege Of Minorities

Background: In this article, we address the legal and constitutional position, focusing particularly on the Serbian minority and other minorities in a broader context. We delve into their rights and privileges and Kosovo institutions' obligations and responsibilities concerning national minorities. Certainly, national minorities are an integral part of the population of Kosovo; they should enjoy rights and obligations arising from the Constitution and applicable laws. National minorities are an added value in every society; they enrich the mosaic of the country where they live and should be respected, promoting the values they carry and represent in society. The article pays great attention to the Serb community living in Kosovo, their rights identified by the Ahtisaari package, and the privileges that this package recognises as a minority. The Ahtisaari package acknowledges the Serbian Orthodox Church's unique status and explicitly outlines this community's representation within central institutions. This includes reserved and ensured seats in both the executive and legislative branches. At the local level, the package determines how they will be represented. Minorities are represented in the police, prosecutors' office, court, and all other public institutions. Attention has been paid towards instances of sabotage within the state and institutions of Kosovo by the Serbian community that lives in Kosovo and is influenced and directed by Serbia. Representatives of the Serbian community in Kosovo enjoy income and benefits from the state of Kosovo for the mandate they exercise. Still, their actions within the institutions tend to align with Serbia’s agendas rather than addressing the concerns of the community they are supposed to represent. Despite the absence of recognition from the state of Kosovo and partial acceptance by some Serbs living in Kosovo, it is crucial to acknowledge that Kosovo is an independent state and internationally recognised by 116 democratic states of the world. Notably, the Constitution of Kosovo, as a strong constitution, guarantees double rights in favour of the Serbian community living in Kosovo even though they constitute no more than 5% of the overall population. The research uses the descriptive analysis method, based on the precise description and in-depth analysis of the topic through gathering detailed data related to the research problem, analysing and interpreting legal texts and relevant information and privileging a certain community. These methods have been employed to compare the legislation in force with the international obligations that Kosovo has received through the comprehensive proposal for treating non-majority minorities. Results and Conclusions: Our research shows that national minorities in Kosovo are not treated equally. The Serbian community is constantly privileged and continues to be favoured by the international community, while other communities have substantial problems living in practical terms. The citizens of Kosovo understand the issue of minority rights best. Therefore, the state of Kosovo and its citizens should not allow national minorities to be discriminated against or their rights abused. Implementing the agreements reached in the dialogue, fulfilling international obligations, and advancing the rights of minorities in Kosovo is the obligation of Kosovo and its citizens. Kosovo institutions are obligated to dialogue with the Serbian community because they are part of society and must be integrated into it.

The main predictive factors of worse outcome in patients with COVID-19 infection hospitalized in temporary COVID hospital.

After the Serbian community hospitals had reached their full capacity during the pandemic, new institutions were enrolled into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) system as temporary COVID hospitals (TCH). These hospitals usually had no intensive care units (ICU) and no possibility to treat severely ill patients. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors at the time of triage that could help identify patients that will require ICU treatment and cannot be treated in a TCH. In this retrospective study, a total of 158 patients with COVID-19 infection were enrolled. The demographic information, underlying comorbidities, laboratory findings, chest X-rays, computed tomography scans, and clinical outcomes were obtained from medical records. Deterioration of a patient's condition was regarded as a need for further transfer to ICU. During the hospitalization 15.2% of patients required transfer to ICU. Patients with deterioration were significantly older and there was no difference between genders. We observed a higher prevalence of hypertension, other cardiovascular diseases, lower lymphocyte and platelet counts, and higher IL-6 and troponin T in patients with deterioration. The multivariate logistical regression model showed that only age was an independent risk factor for deterioration and with each year of age, the risk for poor outcome increased by 8%. Patients with cardiovascular risk factors, low lymphocyte and platelet counts, high IL-6 and troponin T and, especially, increased age should not be treated in a TCH because of the high possibility for deterioration and need for transfer to an ICU.

СЛИКА СРПСКОПРАВОСЛАВНОГ САРАЈЕВА У ПРОЗИ МАЊЕ ПОЗНАТИХ ПРИПОВЈЕДАЧА НА РАЗМЕЂИ 19. И 20. ВИЈЕКА

The paper deals with the image of the Serbian Orthodox community in the late Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Sarajevo, given through the narrative work of lesser-known authors of the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century: Stevo Kaluđerčić, Mita Živković, Novak Simić. Since most of these authors also wrote historiographical texts about Sarajevo (which we will also refer to), and their fiction is based on the poetic principles of realism and is intended primarily for a local and regional audience, we introduced the hypothesis that the horizon of expectations at the time had to impose a high mimetic referentiality of the work. Therefore, through this work, we will try to prove the real relevance of the literary images of the city and its Serbian community, with the hope that such a modest contribution would shed the light on the still insufficiently researched cultural history of the Sarajevo Serbs.

Dominant party politics and ethnic coordination after conflict: the Serb List in Kosovo

ABSTRACT Since entering Kosovo politics in 2013, the Serb List (SL) monopolized political representation in the Kosovo Serb community. This study addresses dual questions of why a dominant party emerged within a distinct ethnic community in 2013, and how it monopolized representation. I argue that a dominant party was strategically developed to coordinate preferences and reduce intra-communal opposition, allowing representatives to participate uncontested in Kosovo’s institutions. The dominant party constrained political pluralism and constituent engagement in the intra-ethnic arena, allowing for freer bargaining in the inter-ethnic arena. Findings from an in-depth case study of the SL demonstrate the SL was formed to curb in-group opposition to negotiated settlements and coordinate disparate political factions in distinct ethnic enclaves. It monopolized political representation by coopting parallel structures of patronage and administration, moderate parties and elite cadres, and coercive mechanisms previously deployed to enforce ethnic closure. The outcome demonstrates that dominant parties can remedy problems of consociational representation, but at the cost of intra-group competition.

Demographic changes in the total number and ethnic structure of the population of Sirinic zupa from 1913 to 2011

The geographical area of Sirinic zupa is a part of the region of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija. The subject of studying the total number and ethnic structure of the population is based on the monitoring and analysis of demographic processes and their trends in Sirinic zupa from 1913 to 2011. With 16 settlements, Zupa represents a multi-ethnic area where Serbs, Albanians, Gorans, Muslims, Bosniaks and Roma have lived for centuries. As a separate parish, this region was first mentioned in the era of the Serbian medieval state. During the period of Turkish rule, and even later until the 19th century, settlements and economic life in Sirinic zupa stagnated. Sirinic zupa was included in the population censuses from 1913 to 2011. The population censuses from 1921 and 1931 clearly indicate an increase in the population. After the Second World War, Sirinic zupa was included in the censuses from 1948 to 2011. Censuses in the period from 1948 to 1989 record a constant increase in the population. However, the 1991 census recorded a decrease in the total number of inhabitants by 1% compared to the 1989 census. Demographic processes after 1999, when NATO bombed FR Yugoslavia and AP Kosovo and Metohija, unequivocally point to complex and serious factors that befell the Serbian community. The 2011 census, which was organized by the temporary institutions of Kosovo and Metohija, was boycotted by the Serbian population. Today, Serbs live in enclaves, displaced, without human dignity, without jobs and without conditions for returning to their centuries-old Serbian hearths. The current demographic processes in Sirinic zupa are characterized by the complexity identified through the reduction of the population, unfavourable security conditions for the Serbian community, unfavourable economic, health and social development.

Serbian Women’s Movement in Austria-Hungary from the Second Half of the Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Centuries: Ideology, Organisations, and Leaders

This article explores the development of feminist ideology and the formation of the Serbian women’s movement in Austria-Hungary in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The emergence of the movement can be explained by the views put forward by the leaders of the Serbian political youth group Omladina, who outlined the role of women in nation-building processes, as well as in the formation of Serbian identity and the achievement of sovereignty in particular. The leaders of the socialist and liberal movements used the principal Serbian female images — assistants and mothers — for ethno-political mobilization. The image of the mother was of major importance for preserving a Serbian identity under the Habsburg rule, in the face of the threat of assimilation after the Compromise of 1867. The participation of women in solving national problems and their social importance led to the dissemination of feminist thinking and the subsequent emergence of the women’s movement. The article suggests that Draga Dejanović (1840–1871) and Milica Tomić (1859–1944) played an important role in this development. It was in the early 1870s that Dejanović advocated equal access to secondary and higher education and developed the idea of “enlightened motherhood”, which encouraged liberal figures of the national movement to defend the interests of women. In addition, mono-ethnic women’s groups pursuing humanism and education were established, providing women from privileged social strata with culturally acceptable means of participation in the public life of the Serbian community in Austria-Hungary. The Serbian women’s movement had undergone a significant ideological evolution perpetuated by the magazine Žena (“Woman”) and its editor-in-chief Milica Tomić. The article suggests that Milica Tomić initiated a realignment of the movement away from purely national goals and towards greater emancipation both on a social and a legal scale.

Hip-hop from dancers’ viewpoint: Dance, lifestyle, and/or subculture?

The paper presents the results of field research on the population of dancers – members of the hip-hop community who are “contestants” in battles. The field research was carried out in April 2022 on a sample of dancers aged 17 to 40 (N = 31). The research results indicate that the hip-hop community in Serbia is small, but that such battles in specific forms contribute to the community’s maintenance and expansion. Battles also play a significant role in the progression and expression of dancers as individuals. Dancers consider hip-hop to be not only an art form but much more, hip-hop is synonymous with a lifestyle and a “way of looking at the world” for dancers. Although the research was carried out on a small sample, it represents the author’s pioneering contribution to a deeper understanding of the hip-hop community in Serbian society. It also indicates the need to carry out compatible research in the future.

SOCIAL RESILIENCE TO FLOOD DISASTERS: DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS OF IMPACT

Starting from the increasingly frequent consequences of floods in local communities in Serbia, this paper aims to examine the level and impact of selected demographic, socio-economic and psychological factors on the level of social resilience to flood disasters. The research was conducted using a provided questionnaire and then collected online for 261 respondents during August 2021. The research results show a statistically significant influence of gender, previous experience, social ties, trust in public institutions and involvement in risk communication processes on the level of social resilience to flooding disasters. In addition, research has found that strengthening social resilience requires strengthening social networking, trust and solidarity among members of the local community. The obtained research results can significantly help all stakeholders formulate strategies, plans, and initiatives to improve social resilience to the consequences of flood disasters and create preconditions for building a safe and sustainable environment.

Everyday Practices of Gender in the Serbian Community of Post-War South-East Kosovo

This article aims to explore the everyday practices of gender in the Serbian community of south-east Kosovo, in a post-war context marked by sudden and radical political and social changes that deeply altered everyday life after 1999 and the establishment of the UN administration. As family and kinship ties are strongly expressed in the researched community, gender practices have been considered within that framework. This article is based on extensive multi-sited fieldwork conducted with members of the Serbian community in south-east Kosovo, and with displaced people from this region in several towns in Serbia. The field research focuses on everyday interactions and perspectives ‘from below’. The sudden and complex social and political changes that occurred after 1999 resulted in the transformation of the family structure and family roles, and thus to changes in gender practices. With the establishment of the international administration, influences linked to globalisation intensified. The migration of part of the community to Serbia, and the life of many of its members as ‘both here and there’, played an important role. Influences from Serbia, community guidance from the Serbian Orthodox Church, and changes in the ethnic and social landscape because of the war all combined to create opposing processes within the family. In family and gender relations, intensive, oppositional processes unfolded. These generated tensions within the community: the nuclearisation of the family and, for certain aspects, the liberalisation of relations in it and, at the same time, repatriarchalisation.

Social Impacts of Modern Small-scale Mining: Case Studies from Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina

This paper analyzes the social impacts of “modern” small-scale mining as perceived by four small communities in Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. The case data consists of 58 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2017–2019. The cases represent examples of old metal mining sites from the Yugoslavian period, recently reopened for exploration and operations. The paper makes a contribution both to social impact research on mining and analysis of the social aspects of new small-scale mining development in Europe. The study revealed that respondents perceived local employment, slowing down migration, and the socio-economic development of the region as the main social impacts of mining development. The study has shown that the “scale” of mining operations is barely regarded by local residents as a determining factor in shaping their attitudes toward the impacts of small-scale mining, while the socio-economic context and historical legacy are important factors in forming social acceptance.

The Paradoxes of PrEP: Rejection, Reluctancy, and Novel Gay Identities in Biomedical HIV Prevention in Serbia

This article explores the different ways in which gay men in Serbia perceive PrEP as a novel method of HIV prevention. In the article, I draw on data from my research on PrEP use among thirty gay men in Belgrade. The use of PrEP is still very low amongst gay communities in Serbia due to their rejection of PrEP and due to the stigma around PrEP use. In Serbia, the social significance of PrEP relates to HIV status disclosure on gay social/dating media. Paradoxically, on gay dating sites, the signifier "PrEP" blurs the line between HIV positive gay men – who have achieved undetectable HIV status through a potent ARV therapy – and those HIV negative gay men who use PrEP as a preventative tool against HIV transmission. In the article, I will argue that a new form of gay identity has emerged on gay dating apps in Serbia – "undetectable, on PrEP." This new identity emerges from confusion in HIV risk assessment. The use of PrEP has been seen as a marker to denote someone’s HIV negative status and to protect them from HIV transmission. However, some gay men with an undetectable HIV status would like to be regarded as HIV negative even though they are not, and thus they use the signifier "on PrEP" to highlight their desire to claim an HIV negative status. PrEP has many symbolic valences: from HIV status disclosure to assumed promiscuity. As I will argue, while the health paradigm is of utmost importance for Serbian gay men, internalized stigma additionally drives the low uptake of PrEP amongst gay communities in Serbia, thus contributing to the confusion regarding PrEP use and the overall approach to HIV prevention. This article finds that those respondents who accept PrEP without stigma or confusion regarding their HIV status are also more willing and ready to recommend using PrEP to other gay men.

Epidemiološke karakteristike dijabetes melitusa u srpskim sredinama na Kosovu i Metohiji

Diabetes mellitus is a serious, chronic disease considerably affecting the quality of life and well-being of the individual, family and society as a whole. The global diabetes epidemic is one of the biggest public health challenges of the 21st century. The subject of the research is the analysis of the diabetes mellitus epidemiological characteristics in Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija, in the period from 2010-2019. The research was designed as a retrospective, descriptive-epidemiological study in which the basic sample consisted of all the patients newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus who were registered in the health care institutions in Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija in the period from 1 January 2010-31 December 2019 and reported to the Kosovska Mitrovica Institute of Public Health. The total number of newly registered cases in the given period was 1250. The Kosovska Mitrovica Institute of Public Health's database of non-communicable diseases was used as a source of data on diabetes mellitus, while the applicable reporting form for this disease was used as a research tool. All statistical calculations were performed using the commercial, standard software package SPSS, version 20.0. (The Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS Inc, version 20.0, Chicago, IL)). Of the total number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in the observed period from 2010 to 2019, more than four in five (87.7%) were people with type 2 diabetes, while one in eight (12.3%) had type 1 diabetes. The younger age groups and men have a considerably higher percentage of new type 1 diabetes cases, while the older age groups and women have a higher percentage of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes cases. Diabetes prevention should be implemented using a population-based approach, which includes actions targeting the society and individuals.