Prishtina is located at the north-east edge of the Kosova plain in the centre of Kosova. It is on the route between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Serbia proper. Prishtina is the economic, cultural, political, and administrative centre of Kosova. Comprising a territory of 854 km2, Prishtina is the most populous municipality in Kosova, which doubled after the conflict.
In 1991 the city was home to about 200,000 inhabitants, but presently, it is estimated that approximately 550,000, including 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from other areas of Kosova. Furthermore, Prishtina is home to a large international presence.
Prishtina Airport is Kosova’s main and central airport, which by performance covers the needs of the major part of the country. Its location (16 km) near Kosova’s capital Prishtina and not farther than 80 km to other main cities makes it especially important for the country. It was officially opened at the present location in 1965. In 1985 the Airport Prishtina location has been equipped with modern technology in compliance with ICAO standards. Since Kosovo war conflict has ended, and the official comeback of the airport staff on 20th of June 1999, the airport has been transformed into an international airport, providing air transport to most European capitals and connecting destinations in most of the World. The airport has re-build the facilities and new equipment was installed which helps offering a wide range of quality services to its passengers and visitors. The company carries out airport services such as receiving and sending off planes and passengers, cargo depot, catering and sells goods, as well as performs other commercial activities for airport users, such as renting the business premises, parking facilities and other.The airports needs were oriented towards the renovation in the post war period. In the last 3 years the company renovated and reorganized the airport completely. The apron, the passenger terminal is being renovated and expanded, work to be completed in the next few months (by the end of the summer 2002), utilities and energy supplies were upgraded and the buildings used for cargo traffic were newly built.Safety in air traffic is of special relevance, and with the latest acquisition, a modern X-ray for baggage inspection, the airport is even safer. Investment into expansion of the parking lot for passenger vehicles (capacity 650 vehicles), modernization of arrival and baggage claim areas in the airport building is also underway. Airport Prishtina is operating successfully; statistics show that the air traffic has grown significantly after the post war period, which has been followed with successful activities of the Airport organization.Future plans also include further modernization of the airport. The company will strive to develop a better network of connections between Kosova and Europe.For Kosova, the Prishtina Airport is the gateway to the world.
Hasan Prishtina (1873 in Vushtrri - 1933) was briefly prime minister of Albania in December 1921. He studied politics and law in Istanbul. His real last name was "Berisha" but he changed it when elected a parliament member, during 1908-1912, of the Turkish National Parliament in Istanbul.
After the Ottoman Government did not keep their promises for more rights and independence to the Albanian nation, Hasan Prishtina and several other prominent Albanian intellectuals started organizing the Albanian National Movement. He together with Isa Boletini and Bajram Curri took the responsibility to start the Movement in Kosovo.
He was elected a minister in the Albanian government of Ismail Qemaili in 1913.
In 1918, Hasan Prishtina, Kadri Prishtina (Hoxhë Kadriu), Bajram Curri and many others create the comittee National Protection of Kosovo]] and had their representatives in Rome and Albania.
He was in charge of the delegation in december 1919, participating to protect the rights of Albania in the Peace Conference of Paris, where he requested the re-unification of Kosovo and Albania.
He was the main organizer of Lushnja Congress in 1920.
Later in 1921 he was elected as the prime minister of the Albanian government, but resigned due to contradictions he had with Ahmet Zogu, the King of Albania. He remained just a member of the parliament.
After the establishment of good relations with the Slovene, Croat and Serbian Empire of 1922 and Ahmet Zogu's government, Hasan Prishtina and many other leaders from Kosovo were persecuted. There are claims that Ahmet Zogu even authorized the Serbian troops to search for him in Albania's territory.
In the end of february of 1923, Hasan Prishtina and Bajram Curri organized an uprisal of Albanians in Kosovo, against the Serbian troops installed there. This uprisal was crushed, as no assistance was provided by Ahmet Zogu.
After this uprisal, several persecutions of Albanians in Kosovo followed.
Hasan Prishtina is known to have been very rich, and sold almost all his property to finance the education of Albanians from Kosovo in universities around Europe, and for the armed resistance, during all his life.
He was imprisoned by Belgrade for a period, was released in 1931, and was killed in Thesaloniki in 1933 by king Zog and Serbian government.
Prishtina History
The area of Prishtina has a long history, in its vincity archaeological discoveries have been found which date back to the early neolithical ages.The remains of Ulpiana, near Prishtina :Southeast of the city, the remains of Ulpiana were discovered, the center of the Illyrian province of Dardania. Ulpiana was founded in the 2nd century during the rule of Emperor Trajan, and renewed in the 6th century during the rule of Justinian, after whom it was called Iustinana Secunda. According to inscriptions on the monuments from Ulpiana, it is apparent that it was one of the most beautiful cities of the Illyrian Dardania, as it was often reffered to as Ulpiana Splendissima. A number of articles were discovered here such as coins, ceramics, weapons, jewlery, all of which are exhibited at the Museum of History of Kosova in Prishtina.After the incursions of Slavs and barbarians during the early Middle Ages, the destroyed town of Ulpiana was abandoned, creating the locality for the new town of Prishtina.During Serbian rule, Prishtina was a major political center. Near Prishtina is the site of the Battle of Kosova (1389), in which a Balkan alliance, led by Serbian Prince Lazar, fought against the Ottoman army. The battle marked the begining of Ottoman rule of the region.
In the 19th century, according to the writings of A. Bue (1838), Prishtina had 7000-9000 inhabitants, and Hilferding (1857) wrote that the town had 1500 houses, one fifth of which were Serbian. In the middle of the 19th century, Prishtina was famous for its fairs (panair) of various crafts and trade articles, especially goat hide and hair articles, coppersmiths, pottery, embroidery, etc.During World War II, Prishtina (with around 16,000 inhabitants), was included in the zone occupied by Italians, and was the center of the prefecture with the same name.Historical monuments near Prishtina include the Gracanica Monastery, built in 1321 on the basis of an older church, and the Mausoleum of Sultan Murat, reconstructed in 1850 by Hurshid Pasha.
Prishtina EducactionPrishtina is the most significant high education center of Kosova. The University of Prishtina, founded in 1970, is located here with its 13 faculties (colleges). Prishtina is also home of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Kosova which gathers Kosova's most prominent intellectuals, the Institute of Albanology, and the Institute of History. Unfortunately, after the Belgrade authorities revoked Kosova's autonomy and took over its administration, in an attempt to close down these institutions deprived them of their buildings and offices, forcing them to find alternative working space around the city. In addition, the Serb police frequently harrass members, professors, students and employees of these institutions.
Something about Prishtina
Prishtina is the capital of Kosova and it has about 250.000 population. Most of them are the Albanian nationality and a small percent of other nationalities. It is a crossroad of significant international routes, for the inersection of arterial roads connection the Western and Esastern Europ with the near East. Not very far from Prishtina, situated in the southeast of the city, the great antique town of Ulpiana, the center of the Illyrian Dardania was founded in the beginning of the second centry AD.
This is Prishtina City
