What is metohija?

Metohija is a region located in the southern part of Kosovo, a disputed territory in southeastern Europe. The region covers an area of approximately 6,000 square kilometers and borders Montenegro to the west and Albania to the south.

Historically, Metohija is known for its many Serbian Orthodox monasteries and churches, some dating back to the medieval period. These sites have been recognized as cultural heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and draw thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year.

In recent years, Metohija has been a focal point of political tensions and conflict between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and the Serbian minority. In 1999, NATO bombings drove out Serbian forces, and since then, the region has been under the control of the Kosovo government.

Despite being under Kosovo's control, the Serbian government and many Serbs consider the region to be part of Serbia and maintain a strong cultural and political presence there. The region remains a contentious issue in the ongoing Kosovo-Serbia dispute.