Ðakovica
Encyclopedia
Đakovica or Gjakova is a city and municipality
in western Kosovo
. It is also the administrative centre of the homonymous district. The municipality's population is estimated at 94,158(2011). The city is located at 42.39°N 20.43°E.
It is also plausible to conclude that the Albanian name for the town, 'Gjakova' may in fact represent an Albanized version of otherwise south slavic (Serbian) genitive case 'Jakova', as in "(zemlja) Jakova", meaning "(the land) of Jakov", Jakov being a landlord and vassal of Vuk Branković, Serbian medieval nobleman.
1% and the other national minorities 7%. Those are data records by OESC. After 1999, due to various reasons, primarily due to their ethnicity, the Serbs were forced out of the area, so today, from several thousands, only 5 Serbs still live in Đakovica, in the monastery of Assumption of the Theotokos. It is estimated that in Đakovica lives 48,000 citizens (2011) and in municipality 94,158 citizens.
reported in 1912, citing Austro-Hungarian sources, that people on the gallows
hung on both sides of the road, and that the way to Đakovica became a "gallows alley." In the region of Đakovica, Montenegrin police-military formation Royal Gendarmerie Corps (Kraljevski žandarmerijski kor), known as krilaši, committed much abuse and violence against the non-Christian population.
In Đakovica, Serbian priests carried out violent conversion of Albanian Catholics to Serbian Orthodox faith
.
Yugoslav units were stationed in and near the town in two barracks due to the risk of an attack by the Kosovo Liberation Army
(KLA) from across the border in Albania. The KLA were attacked on several occasions by NATO forces. In one incident, NATO aircraft misidentified a convoy of Albanian refugees and attacked it.
Actions on the ground had a devastating effect on the town. According to the ICTY
, OSCE, and international human rights organizations, about 75% of the population was forcibly expelled from the town by Serbian police and paramilitaries as well as Yugoslav forces, while many civilians were killed in the process. 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 KLA. 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
. http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/milu-3ai020905e.pdf The number of missing people from the municipality is among the highest in all of Kosovo, numbering over 300. In the course of the current year several dozen corpses have been identified and returned to their families, though the number is relatively small 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.
Most of the Albanian population returned following the end of the war. In 2001 free democratic elections were held, with a majority won by LDK. Thousands of new stores were rebuilt and opened. Qarshia e Madhe is a good example where hundreds of stores were destroyed during the war; in 2001 as many were rebuilt as they had been before the war. New television and radio media were launched such as Radio Gjakova, Radio Pandora, Radio Amadeus, and TV Syri. Local businesses set up manufacturing enterprises such as the IMN brick factory was one of these. Businesses are now booming, with aid from foreign organizations, and their activities are based mainly on free market trade.
constitute about 95% of the population ), while some 7060 Muslims by nationality
, Roma
, Ashkali
and Egyptians making up ca. 4.7% represent the main minority communities.
According to OSCE
estimations, before the Kosovo War
of 1999 the municipality had a population of about 145,000, of which 93% were Kosovo Albanians and 7% non-majority communities, including some 3,000 Kosovo Serbs, who mostly lived in the main town.
Dakovica is situated at the Southern end of The Dinaric Alps
and is approx. 100 Km inland from the Adriatic Sea
.
Đakovica's most successful team is KF Vëllaznimi which has won 9 titles of Kosovar Superliga, and 4 Kosovo Cups.
"Shani Nushi" is the city's sports hall, which has a capacity of 3500 seats, while Đakovica's City Stadium has a capacity of 6000 (2000 seats).
Municipalities of Kosovo
A Municipality is the basic administrative division in Kosovo.-List of Municipalities:The first name is Serbian and the second one is Albanian:* Dečani / Deçan* Dragaš / Dragash* Đakovica / Gjakovë* Glogovac / Gllogovc * Gnjilane / Gjilan...
in western Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. It is also the administrative centre of the homonymous district. The municipality's population is estimated at 94,158(2011). The city is located at 42.39°N 20.43°E.
Name
There are a number of theories concerning the name of the town: that it derives from the Serbian word đak (pupil) from earlier d(i)jak; or that it derives from the Albanian word for "blood" (gjak).It is also plausible to conclude that the Albanian name for the town, 'Gjakova' may in fact represent an Albanized version of otherwise south slavic (Serbian) genitive case 'Jakova', as in "(zemlja) Jakova", meaning "(the land) of Jakov", Jakov being a landlord and vassal of Vuk Branković, Serbian medieval nobleman.
Demography
Before 2011. in the city lived 48,000 citizens. Albanians made up 92% of population, SerbsSerbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
1% and the other national minorities 7%. Those are data records by OESC. After 1999, due to various reasons, primarily due to their ethnicity, the Serbs were forced out of the area, so today, from several thousands, only 5 Serbs still live in Đakovica, in the monastery of Assumption of the Theotokos. It is estimated that in Đakovica lives 48,000 citizens (2011) and in municipality 94,158 citizens.
Balkan Wars
Đakovica has been mentioned as a city that suffered greatly from the Serbian-Montenegrin army during the Balkan Wars. The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported in 1912, citing Austro-Hungarian sources, that people on the gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
hung on both sides of the road, and that the way to Đakovica became a "gallows alley." In the region of Đakovica, Montenegrin police-military formation Royal Gendarmerie Corps (Kraljevski žandarmerijski kor), known as krilaši, committed much abuse and violence against the non-Christian population.
In Đakovica, Serbian priests carried out violent conversion of Albanian Catholics to Serbian Orthodox faith
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
.
Kosovo War
The town was badly affected by the war, suffering great physical destruction and large-scale human losses and human rights abuses.Yugoslav units were stationed in and near the town in two barracks due to the risk of an attack by the Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
(KLA) from across the border in Albania. The KLA were attacked on several occasions by NATO forces. In one incident, NATO aircraft misidentified a convoy of Albanian refugees and attacked it.
Actions on the ground had a devastating effect on the town. According to the ICTY
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
, OSCE, and international human rights organizations, about 75% of the population was forcibly expelled from the town by Serbian police and paramilitaries as well as Yugoslav forces, while many civilians were killed in the process. 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 KLA. The actions of the government forces in Đakovica formed a major part of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
war crimes indictment of the then-President Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
. http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/milu-3ai020905e.pdf The number of missing people from the municipality is among the highest in all of Kosovo, numbering over 300. In the course of the current year several dozen corpses have been identified and returned to their families, though the number is relatively small 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.
Most of the Albanian population returned following the end of the war. In 2001 free democratic elections were held, with a majority won by LDK. Thousands of new stores were rebuilt and opened. Qarshia e Madhe is a good example where hundreds of stores were destroyed during the war; in 2001 as many were rebuilt as they had been before the war. New television and radio media were launched such as Radio Gjakova, Radio Pandora, Radio Amadeus, and TV Syri. Local businesses set up manufacturing enterprises such as the IMN brick factory was one of these. Businesses are now booming, with aid from foreign organizations, and their activities are based mainly on free market trade.
Geography and population
The municipality covers an area of 521 km2, including the town of Đakovica and 84 villages. As of October 2007, the population is estimated to be of approximately 158,000 people, out of which 100,000 (60%) live in the town and 58,000 (40%) reside in the surrounding villages. The Kosovo AlbaniansAlbanians in Kosovo
Albanians are the largest ethnic group in Kosovo . According to the 1991 Serbian census, boycotted by Albanians, there were 1,596,072 ethnic Albanians in Kosovo or 81.6% of population...
constitute about 95% of the population ), while some 7060 Muslims by nationality
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
, Roma
Roma in Kosovo
Roma in Kosovo are Serbian Roma , polylingual Roma and Albanian Roma who self-identify as Ashkali or Balkan Egyptians...
, Ashkali
Ashkali
In the Balkans, the Ashkali and Egyptians are Albanian-speaking ethnic minorities of Kosovo and Albania. Observers consider them Albanized Romanies, but they do not self-identify as such...
and Egyptians making up ca. 4.7% represent the main minority communities.
According to OSCE
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
estimations, before the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
of 1999 the municipality had a population of about 145,000, of which 93% were Kosovo Albanians and 7% non-majority communities, including some 3,000 Kosovo Serbs, who mostly lived in the main town.
Dakovica is situated at the Southern end of The Dinaric Alps
Dinaric Alps
The Dinaric Alps or Dinarides form a mountain chain in Southern Europe, spanning areas of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro....
and is approx. 100 Km inland from the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
.
Sport
Apart from being a culture and educative center of Kosovo, Đakovica is also known as a sports center. The best example of this is the fact of having 38 clubs, which compete in all leagues over Kosovo.Đakovica's most successful team is KF Vëllaznimi which has won 9 titles of Kosovar Superliga, and 4 Kosovo Cups.
"Shani Nushi" is the city's sports hall, which has a capacity of 3500 seats, while Đakovica's City Stadium has a capacity of 6000 (2000 seats).