Gjakova: Difference between revisions

Đakovica.

Đakovica at night.

Sport fans of sport club "Vëllaznimi", Đakovica.

Kosovar Albanian ethnic room in Đakovica.

Đakovica or Djakovica (Serbian: Ђаковица, Đakovica; Albanian: Gjakova or Gjakovë) is a city in western Kosovo, Serbia. It is located at 42.39°N 20.43°E / 42.39; 20.43. There are a number of theories among the citizens of Đakovica concerning the name of the town. The first one is that the city was names after one of the large owner of the land where the city was built, Jak Vula - Jakova - Gjakova - (Serb Djakovica). Another theory is that the city's name derives from the Albanian word for blood (Gjak). Ethymological research shows that the name derives from the Albanian word wikt:gjak

Geography and population

The name is also given to the surrounding administrative district, which covers an area of about 521 km², including the town of Đakovica, and 84 villages. Before the Kosovo War it had a population of about 145,000. Kosovo Albanians constituted 93% of this community. The post-war population is now estimated to be about 150,000 people, out of which 90,000 live in the town, and the rest, 60,000 inhabitants reside in the surrounding villages. [1]

History

Đakovica in the Kosovo War

Đakovica had a pre-war population estimated by the OSCE to be 93% Kosovo Albanians and 7% non-majority communities, including some 3,000 Kosovo Serbs, who mostly lived in the main town[2]. The town was extremely badly affected by the war, suffering great physical destruction and large-scale human losses and rights abuses.

Yugoslav units stationed in and near the town, two military barracs to be more precise since the risk of an intrusion from KLA from across the border with Albania was evident, were attacked on several occasions by NATO forces. In one incident, NATO aircraft misidentified a convoy of Albanian refugees and attacked it, killing dozens of civilians.

Actions on the ground had a devastating effect on the town. According to the ICTY, OSCE, and international human rights organisations, about 75% of the population was forcibly expelled from the town by Serbian police and paramilitaries as well as Yugoslav forces, with many civilians being killed in the process. [3][4] Large areas of the town were destroyed, chiefly through arson and looting but also in the course of localised fighting between government security forces and members of the Kosovo Liberation Army. The actions of the government forces in Đakovica formed a major part of the United Nations war crimes indictment of the then-President Slobodan Milošević. [5]

During the Kosovo war this municipality was heavily affected and many atrocities were committed against the local Albanian population. The number of missing people from this municipality is among the highest in all Kosovo, numbering over 300. In the course of the current year several dozens of corpses have been identified and returned to their families, though it still remain a relatively small number compared to the figures of those who are still missing. As a result, any reference to the return of the former Kosovo Serb population remains highly sensitive. [6]

During the NATO bombing campaign, it was the site of the NATO bombing of Albanian refugees near Đakovica.

Most of the Albanians population returned following the end of the war. Albanians and other communities such as Egyptians and Roma, were successful in building free market system and new democratic institutions. In 2001 occurred free democratic election were majority leaded LDK. People from Đakovica are known to be very open minded and advanced. There were thousands of new stores rebuild and opened. Qarshia e Madhe is a good example were hundreds of stores destroyed during the war; in 2001 were build again as there were before the war. New media were launched such as Radio Gjakova, Radio Pandora, Radio Amadeus, TV Syri. Commencement of factory was influenced by local business. IMN brick factory was one of them commenced for the emergency need of population. Business were booming, foreigner organizations were good supporter and mainly their activities are based on free market trade.

Famous people from Đakovica

• Fadil Hoxha, politician and Kosovo's leader during the reign of Tito.
• Lorik Cana, professional footballer and a player in the National Albanian Team.
• Besnik Hasi, professional footballer and a player in the National Albanian Team.
• Naim Krieziu, AS Roma footballer oplaying in the '40s
• Mahmut Bakalli, one of Kosovo's leaders and a high official.
• Dimitar Obshti, failed 19th century Bulgarian revolutionary.
• Alban Bokshi, political activist.
• Ardian Gashi, Norwegian footballer.
• Ardian Kozniku, Croatian footballer, member of the Croatian bronze-medal winning squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
• Dr.Ardian B. Gojani, shock - wave physicist.
• Vladimir Durković, former footballer

External links

• SOK Kosovo and its population