Uroševac

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Ferizaj Uroševac (Урошевац)
Coordinates: 42°38′N 21°17′E / 42.633, 21.283
District	District of Uroševac
Municipality	Municipality of Uroševac
Government
- Mayor	Bajrush Xhemaili
Elevation	500 m (1,640 ft)
Population (2007)[1]
- Total	160,000 - 170,000 (municipality)
- Density	201.3/km² (521.4/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
Postal code	70000
Area code(s)	+381 290
Website: Municipality of Uroševac

Uroševac or Ferizaj (Albanian: Ferizaj; Serbian: Урошевац, Uroševac; Turkish: Ferizoviç) is a city and municipality in southern Kosovo, located some 40 kilometers (25 mi) south of the capital Pristina. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous district.

The municipality covers an area of 345 km², including the city of Uroševac and 44 villages. It is largely an agricultural plain. Its population is estimated at 160,000 to 170,000 (2007).^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Mosque and Church 3 Economy 4 Education 5 Media 6 Demographics 7 Gallery 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] History

Uroševac was little more than a village until 1873, when the Belgrade-Thessaloniki railway was opened, passing through the town. It derives its Serbian name from the medieval Saint Uroš, who is commemorated by a cathedral in the town.^{[citation needed]} Its Albanian name derives from a pre-1873 hotel owned by a local Kosovo Albanian named Feriz Shashivari; thus Serbs called the community Ferizovići ("Feriz's village") while Albanians called it Ferizaj.^{[citation needed]} The town was known as Ferizovik in Turkish. It is still known informally as "Tasjan", from a Turkish form of the French word station, referring to its status as a main station on the railway line.^[2]

The city suffered some damage during the Kosovo War of 1999, with some of its Albanian-populated neighborhoods being shelled and burned by the Yugoslav Army. Following the war, the city has seen serious intercommunal unrest which resulted in almost all of the non-Albanian inhabitants being expelled or fleeing.

Camp Bondsteel, the main base of the United States Army detachment to the KFOR peacekeeping force in Kosovo, is located nearby.

[edit] Mosque and Church

The mosque and the church located in the centre of Uroševac are considered as a symbol of religious tolerance between Albanian Muslims and Serbian Orthodox. The church was build by Serbs in the land that in that time belonged to mosque. The mosque was destroyed during the World War II, but than rebuild. During the Kosovo war in 1999 none of them were destroyed. In March 2004 during unrest in Kosovo, the church was attacked. Because the mosque and the church are in the same place, many people like to make photos as a unique phenomenon.

[edit] Economy

The US company “Brown & Root,” assisting in constructing the Camp Bondsteel, is a major employer in the municipality with 1,500 people locally employed. Most of the 22 socially-owned enterprises have been privatised. According to statistical information from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, there are more than 4,500 private small and medium-sized businesses registered in the municipality while the municipal registry counts 3,463 active local businesses. The municipal figures of local active companies show that 11% are production oriented, 43% provide services, and 46% of businesses are trade-oriented. ^[1]

[edit] Education

There are 30 primary schools in the municipality and 22,771 students. Six secondary schools include gymnasium and professional schools (technical, medical, music, agricultural and economics) with 7,054 students in total. The school attendance of the Ashkali, Roma and Gorani children is lower than the Kosovo Albanians. There is also one kindergarten with a total of 270 children registered. The Municipal Department of Education and Science is comprised of more than 1,680 professional and support staff, including 10 minority communities representatives. ^[3] Uroševac has two public libraries, where student also have internet access. Membership prices are very symbolic.

[edit] Media

There are 3 TV stations and 4 radio stations licensed and operational in Uroševac. All the local media are privately owned: RTV TEMA, TV Liria, RTV Festina, Radio Ferizaj and Radio Furtuna.

[edit] Demographics

There is currently no correct information on the exact figure on the municipality's population, as the last census took place in 1991. However, as of 2007 municipal authorities estimate the population to number between 160,000 and 170,000. The majority, roughly 160,000 residents, are Kosovo Albanian. The other groups are as follows: Ashkali (3758 residents), Roma (260 residents), Gorani (230 residents), Bosniak (68 residents), Serb (approximately 150 residents), and other communities (40 residents), including Turks.^[1]

The city had a population of about 80,000 people in the 1990s but this has grown substantially as a result of Albanian migration from the countryside and from parts of southern Serbia.^[2]

In 1998, prior to the 1999 Kosovo War, the population was recorded as 57,421, of whom 82.1% were Albanian, 9.4% Serb, and the remainder from various other national communities.^{[citation needed]} In 2003 the town had a total population of 139,800.^{[citation needed]}

Ethnic Composition, Including IDPs
Year/Population	Albanian	%	Serb	%	Ashkali/Roma	%	Gorani/Bosniaks	%	Total
1991 census *	81,737	85.9	8,191	8.6	2,081	2.2			95,156
October 1999	92,267	95.1	26	0.0	4,700	4.8			96,967
Current est.	160,000	98.4	147	0.1	3,594	1.3	248	0.2	163,842
It is noted that the 1991 census was highly politicised and is thus regarded as unreliable. Ref: OSCE [1]

[edit] Gallery

"Dëshmorët e Kombit" street

Luboteni

Jeronim De Rada school

[edit] See also

• Kosovo Serb enclaves.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• LuRexSoft
• RTV TEMA

v • d • e Municipalities of Kosovo1 Dečani • Đakovica • Dragaš • Glogovac • Gnjilane • Istok • Kačanik • Klina • Kosovo Polje • Kosovska Kamenica • Mitrovica • Leposavić • Lipljan • Mališevo • Novo Brdo • Obilić • Orahovac • Peć • Podujevo • Pristina • Prizren • Srbica • Štimlje • Štrpce • Suva Reka • Uroševac • Vitina • Vučitrn • Zubin Potok • Zvečan 1 sovereignty disputed by Serbia as UN protectorate since February 17, 2008 unilateral declaration of independence