Gnjilane

Gnjilane or Gjilan (Albanian: Gjilani or Gjilan; Serbian: Гњилане, Gnjilane, pronounced [gɲîlane̞]; Turkish: Gilan) is a city and municipality in eastern Kosovo^[a]. It is the administrative center of the District of Gjilan. It is famous for having been recorded the lowest temperature in Kosovo with −32.5 °C (−26.5 °F) on 25 January 1963.

Name and history

The origin of the town's name is disputed. Albanian sources claim that the town was originally established in 1572 by the Gjinolli family, who arrived from Novo Brdo, one of the most important late-medieval cities in the central Balkans. However, there is no definite evidence to support that claim, and in fact no one can confirm as to who the first true inhabitants were, or when they first settled there.

In the Middle Ages the city was called Morava and was a major trade and industrial center. Gnjilane was often visited by the Serbian rulers, and the first written records about it, is the 1342. year, directly related to the residence of King Stefan Dusan. The present name of the town was first mentioned in the late 14th century in a charter of Serbian princess Milica, wife of Prince Lazar. However, the first data concerning the existence of inhabited places in the area appear in the first half of the fourteenth century and the reign of Tsar Stefan Dusan, who also visited Ružica (as at that time was called Gnjilane) around 1351. year and crossed the famous bridge on the river Masketarovog Dobrusha, downtown, and thus forever marked the history of this Serbian village.

In 1915, in and around the city, the Serbian army made a futile stand against the 1st Army of Bulgaria, during the World War I Battle of Kosovo. That battle resulted in the ultimate defeat of the Serbian military, and the occupation by the forces allied with the then German Empire. In World War II there was a significant amount of activity in and around Gnjilane by the Partisans fighting against Nazi Germany and her allies. Monuments to these actions can still be found today, one of which is located in the middle of the village of Koretiste. In 1999, Camp Monteith was established outside the city as a base of operations for KFOR during Operation Joint Guardian, on the site of a destroyed Serbian military base which is handed over to Kosovo Protection Corps in 2007 after U.S. Military downsized their troops. Gnjilane has also served as the regional headquarters of the UNMIK International Police task force from 1999.

Population

In March 2011, the Gnjilane municipality was estimated to have over 90,015 residents.^[1] The vast majority of the population is Albanian, followed by Serbs, and a small number of minorities.

Official Languages

In Gnjilane Municipality Albanian, Serbian and Turkish languages are official languages.^[2]

Economy

There are 3,700 registered private businesses in the municipality employing 7,900 people. Before 1999, Gnjilane was an important industrial centre in Kosovo. Still in operation are the radiator factory and tobacco factory, which has been recently privatized. The new city business incubator, supported by the European Agency for Reconstruction, was inaugurated in Summer 2007.

Features

Gnjilane is now the administrative center of the District of Gnjilane of Kosovo. Since February 15, 2003, it is the headquarters of the Local Democracy Agency in Kosovo of the Council of Europe.

Sports

Gjilani is home to the Basketball club Drita Gjilan, the football clubs KF Gjilani and KF Drita and Volleyball club KV Drita, male and female- the most successful club in Gnjilane's history.

Notes and references

Notes:

References:

External links

• Municipality of Gnjilane
• Pictures of NATO bombing of Gjilan-Gnjilane
• SOK Kosovo and its population