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The city of Ferizaj
is located 35 km south of Prishtina, the capital of Kosova. Because of its exceptional natural geographic position, the city
of Ferizaj is a link city for the citizens of Kosova. All the roads pass through the city of Ferizaj leading from north to
south and from east to west or vice versa. It is a main link between the major cities of Gjilan, Kaçaniku, Prishtina, and
Shkupi. The city covers an area of 720 km². It lies on a beautiful flat agricultural plain. The city is a host of 132 000
people, and the surrounding 44 villages scattered throughout the municipality bust the population to 175 000. The biggest
villages are Komogllava and Gremja. The Albanian language is mostly spoken in the city. Every citizen of Ferizaj speaks fluently
the native Albanian language. Majority of the citizens are indigenous and autochtonomous Albanians. There are other communities
of other nationalities living in the city of whom the community of Slavic Gypsies known as Serbs contributes 0.3% in the census
of the population, the community of Roma people or Gypsies are 1.5%, and other nationalities are 1%. The city of Ferizaj is
an attractive museum and a symbol of Kosova’s Train Workers. The city has middle modified continental clime. The summers
are hot, and winters are cold. People of Ferizaj are peasants that for centuries have practiced the valor and the dignity
of life in this region. The citizens of Ferizaj are good farmers, hunters, and good artisans.
The city is known
as a settlement since the ancient time. It was a village of 20 or 30 houses. During the time, the village grew to 200 houses.
During the reign of Justinian I, the city grew to have 300 houses. Due to wars and economical difficulties, the village almost
vanished. It remained to be small village counting 25 to 30 houses. Even though the village was small, it remained to
be important trading center for centuries. The name of the city has many different legends and explanations. The Albanians
call the city Ferizaj while the Slavic population calls Uroshevac. Both names have Albanian origin. The legend about the city
is a story about two warlords rushing to arrive in the battle against the Ottoman Turkish Army. Both were Albanians, and both
were catholic. Ferizi was the one to arrive first on the battle front. The other warlord remained to fix the bridge.
Because the bridge did not allow him to arrive on time on the battle front, he was called Uroshi. In the other side, it is
being spoken about one person. Ferizi was to be praised, or blessed or congratulate. The meaning of “ urosh” in Albanian language means congratulates.
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Based on etymology
of the name, Uroshi is derived from two Albanian words: “Ur – bridge,” and “s’hi – cannot
go in.” The Slavic population Slav sized the name as they done with other toponomy, and they added an end ”evac”
to the base name. The name Uroshi became Uroshevac. The Slavic people due to religious haterate and fundamentalism, and their
nationalistic and chauvinistic attitude changed the name to Uroshevac. The Slavic people continue to call the city Uroshevac.
The other nationalities, including Albanians, continue to call the city Ferizaj. Nevertheless, the name Ferizaj is an antic
name. During ancient time, the city was known as Fereziaji. The ancient Illyrians called it Firi or the hell. In todays Albanian
spoken language “firi” means hell.The Romans called it as Feriae meaning a festival or holiday. Feralis meaning
funeral, deadly, fatal or the festival of the dead. During the Byzantine, the people called it Ferio which meant to
strike, to hit, or to knock something. However, based on etymology of the name, Ferizaj is a name or word originating
from three Albanian words, “Fer” meaning thorn, and “ zi” meaning black, and “aji” meaning
he. The total name means in English, he is the black thorn. The first archeological artifacts were found near the village
of Firaj in 1988. Unfortunately, the artifacts were demolished by the Serbian fascists because the artifacts contained words
that could be understood in today Albanian language. Many artifacts were intentionally demolished by the Serbian government
in order to disprove the Albanians are direct decedents of Illyrian.The city witnessed growth and reduction of the population
during the life span. The Albanian population living in Ferizaj is indigenous and autochthonous. In ancient time, Ferizaj
was a small village of Illyrian tribe Dardani and Tribalti. The special dialect or spoken Albanian in some villages around
the city distinguishes the Ferizajians from the rest of Albanians. The Illyrian citizens of Ferizaj were good farmers, hunters,
and good artisans. During its existence, the Illyrian felt a need and moral obligation to have servants and slaves.
During the XVI century AD, the first slaves were adopted by the people of Ferizaj. They were treated as members of their family.
The slaves willingly accepted the Christian religion. People of Ferizaj felt a moral obligation to have equal rights to live
free with a respect to the others. The rest of population immigrated during the existence of this city. With the arrival of
Slavic Gypsies known as Serbs, the Roma people and Gypsies arrived with them. They were the servants in Albanian homes. The
city remained to be small until 1873 when the railroad was built. From 1873 to 1912, the city experienced economical growth
which growth brought more people to live in Ferizaj. In 912, the Russian war against Ottoman Turkey killed a lot of innocent
Albanians. The joined Slavic army numbering 2 million soldiers went through the Balkans. The city of Ferizaj was totally destroyed.
The Albanians were murdered. It is believed that during November 18 to November 20, 1912, the Slavic people without any reasons
killed more than 60 000 Albanian civilians in Ferizaj and surroundings. Their property was taken, and the Slavic people were
assigned in important government positions. This time is the darkest history of Ferizaj and AlbaniansDuring the Second World
War, the Serbians tried to commit atrocities. Nevertheless, the Serbians were not helped by the Russians. The Serbian force
was destroyed by Albanian National Head. The city was liberated during 1941 to 1945. The joint communist Albanian forces and
Slavic communist forces betrayed the Albanian National Head. First, the Albanian communists made a treaty with Albanian National
Head. The Albanian National Head allowed the Albanian communists to go in the city and live in the city. Unfortunately,
during the night more than 45 000 Slavic communists entered the city of Ferizaj. The Serbian and other Slavic Communist terrorists
perpetrated massacres over innocent Albanian population. The Tito and the Yugoslav constitution did bring peace and protection
for Albanians in 1974. The city grew to be a metropolis of diversity under the leadership of Albanians. Unfortunately, the
Serbian government systematically started with repression after Albanian Demonstration in 1981. The repression and expatriation
of Albanians from the city continued. In 1989, the Serbian Government without any reasons and legal rights stripped out the
political autonomy of Kosova and started its colonialist politics. From 1990 to 1995, the Serbian fascist government brought
new Serbian settlers in Ferizaj. It is estimated that only in Ferizaj the Slavic Serbian fascist communist government brought
18 000 Serbians from war torn parts of Bosnia and CroatiaIt was given them new apartments and they were settled all around
the city of Ferizaj. Most of the new settlers were employed in police force and military. Albanians were terminated from their
working position. The systematic repression, apartheid, killings, expulsion, and ruthless anti Albanian practices have continued
until 1997. The massive expulsion of Albanians and ill treatment by the Serbian fascist government lead to mass killings of
innocent Albanians. The Albanians started to defend themselves, and it was born the Kosovo Liberation Army.
The war ranged with casualties
in both sides. The Serbian fascist government and Army were losing their battles, and taking their revenge toward the innocent
Albanian population. The massacres perpetrated by Yugoslav Army and Serbian police and paramilitary lead to the international
community involvement. NATO foresaw a big war that would engulf not only the Balkans but the entire Europe. It was a threat
for Third World War that triggered the NATO involvement. On March 24, 1999, NATO began the air strikes against the FRY.
This attack triggered an immediate intensification of the violence and destruction in the centre of Ferizaj, in the course
of which many houses were burned, shops looted, and Kosovo Albanian citizens killed. During the night, Serbian police officers,
Serbian paramilitaries, and Yugoslavian Army set the market quarter on fire. Some of the paramilitaries present were described
as wearing camouflage uniforms with a tiger's face on the sleeve patches. Local residents also identified local Serbs and
Gypsies as participating and shooting directly into houses of Kosovo Albanian residents.Tanks, trucks, and heavy artillery
were seen in the town. Albanians were ordered to leave their houses and leave Kosova. The city became a ghost town. The transport
tucks were seen during the night loading the properties of Albanians such as fridges, stoves, and other machinery and being
sent into Serbia. The machinery and the equipment that could not be transported were damaged. The city had a pipe factory,
a small oil factory, smaller trade businesses, and other small business enterprises. Almost, everything was destroyed or taken
to Serbia. The war ended, and one million Albanian citizens returned to Kosova. The citizens of Ferizaj returned to their
houses to witness horrible atrocities and crimes that a human being cannot imagine. Nevertheless, people of Ferizaj have rebuilt
their houses, and they are working very hard to rebuild their city without any serious help or assistance by any international
organization. The hardest thing is to rebuilt their spirit and forget the reality horror that will always remain in the hearts
of Albanians as a black dot. Today, the terrorist government of Russian Gypsies so called Serbia have not compensated for
the damages that their military killing machine did to Ferizaj and its citizens. The terrorists and their terrorist country
Serbia is not punished by the international community as was the Nazi Germany. The indictment of the state leaders does not
return the life of the love ones lost in war, and the property that was stolen. Hopefully, the missing people and their faith
will be revealed, and Serbia returns the stolen property, and it pays for the damages caused not only to Ferizaj but to Kosova
and Albanians.People of Ferizaj are peasants that for centuries have practiced the valor and the dignity of life in this region.
Always, they helped each others in need and found balance within the constraint of their abilities to be proud and happy.
They care for each other, and worked hard to facilitate the mutual respect based on canon laws. The Albanians of Ferizaj and
this time have shown a perfect faith reposed for mutual respect as the strongest proofs that lead the Ferizajans to the great
happiness. The Russian Gypsies known as Serbs and Roma people live in Ferizaj under the shadow of terrorism. The free and
democratically elected local government with an extreme professionalism finds the way to bring the true harmony in the city.
The city assembly comprises of 41 members elected after the October 2002 Municipal Elections. The city administration currently
employs 278 civil servants. The city of Ferizaj comprises of 13 Departments covering all the spheres of municipal business.
It is worth noting that the UNMIK established Municipal Community Office functions as a municipal Department in Ferizaj, and
it employs 12 persons from different minority communities residing in the city. The city has the Municipal Court, the Minor
Offences Court, and the office of the Prosecutor. The Municipal Court of Ferizaj covers Kaçanik, Shtërpcë, and Shtime with
a sub branch court in Shtërpcë. The Kosova Police Services in the municipality became independent in August 2004 and has been
a regional KPS Station covering Kaçanik, Shtërpcë, and Shtime Police Stations. The KPS officers are of different nationalities,
including Roma or Gypsies, and the Russian Gypsies known as Serbs. UNMIK Police officers are based at the same stations as
the officers of KPS. As to the international military presence, the municipality hosts the US KFOR base “Bondsteel”
and the Greek KFOR base.
The zip code
or postal code for the city is 70 000. The city is a host of few political parties, LDK - Democratic League of Kosovo,
PDK - Democratic Party of Kosovo, LDD - Democratic League of Dardania, AAK - Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, PDAK - Ashkali
Democratic Party of Kosovo, and DSS - Democratic Party of SerbiaThe surrounding villages have been producing variety
of agricultural products for the needs of the citizens. Small businesses have flourished all around the city. The citizens
of Ferizaj in mutual cooperation they share and solve any issue in the life. The schools and public libraries have opened.
Before the war, the city of Ferizaj had seven public libraries with 65 000 books. After the war, 20 000 books survived from
the Serbian and Russian military terrorist destructions. The city, today, has only five public libraries. The city still has
the theater “Adriana Abdullahu.” The theater was established in 1943 by Albanian National Head, and 145 Premiers
have been played since the establishment of the theater. In addition, the literary group “ Jeronim Derrada”
still functions in the city. For thirty years, this literary group has produced novels, poetry books, and organized the cultural
news paper ”Zgjimi.”On Sunday February 17, 2008, the Kosova’s parliament solemnly declared independent and
sovereign state of Kosova. The independence declaration followed all over Ferizaj with happiness and greetings. All over the
Albanian cities and all over the world where the Albanians lived, the mood was jubilant. City of Ferizaj is a magnet for thinkers,
business people, artists, and tourists alike. Whether you are a first time visitor or a resident, Ferizaj is a great place
to live, to work, and to explore. The important thing is to visit Ferizaj and overlook the qualities of joy and romance. It
has so much to offer, tradition, entertainment, and the hospitality that one really enjoys. The hospitality charm of this
fabulous city will remain in the heart forever
Iliriapress
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