Gazimestan

Gazimestan monument.

Gazimestan (Serbian: Газиместан, Serbian pronunciation: [ɡaziměstaːn]) is the name of a monument commemorating the historical Battle of Kosovo, situated about 6-7 kilometres southeast of the actual battlefield, known as Kosovo field. The name is a portmanteau derived from Arabic ghazi, meaning "hero" or "champion", and Serbian word mesto, meaning "place". The monument was designed by Aleksandar Deroko and built in 1953 under the authority of SFR Yugoslavia. It is in the shape of a medieval tower. Gazimestan is reached from the Pristina–Mitrovica highway, on a 50-metre hill above the plain, ca. 5 km north-west from Pristina. Every year, on Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day), 28 June, a commemoration is held by the monument. The building is covered by an image of Prince Lazar during Vidovdan. In 2007, a 14-day march from Belgrade to Gazimestan was organized by several patriotic organizations.[1] In 2009, the commemoration brought the biggest crowd since 1999, with several thousand people.[2] In 2010, the Kosovo Police was handed over the task of guarding the monument, which was criticised by the Serbian government.[3] In 2014, President Tomislav Nikolić held a speech at the monument.[4]

The Gazimestan speech delivered by Slobodan Milošević on the 600th anniversary of the battle in 1989 was held by the monument, which preceded a violent surge in nationalistic and ethnic tensions prior to the breakup of Yugoslavia.

“
Whoever is a Serb and of Serb birth
And of Serb blood and heritage
And comes not to the Battle of Kosovo,
May he never have the progeny his heart desires!
Neither son nor daughter
May nothing grow that his hand sows!
Neither dark wine nor white wheat
And let him be cursed from all ages to all ages!
 ”
— Inscription on the monument of the "Kosovo curse" attributed to Prince Lazar.
This version first appeared in the 1845 folk songs collection of Vuk Karadžić.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gazimestan.

Annotations

a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has been recognised as an independent state by 108 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References

  1. ↑ "Vreme 860 - Kosovo: Vidovdan 2007". Vreme.com. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
  2. ↑ "Serbs celebrate Vidovdan in Kosovo - Politics - on". B92.net. 2009-06-28. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
  3. ↑ "Kosovo police take over historic site of Gazimestan". BBC News. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
  4. ↑ "Nikolić's speech at Gazimestan interrupted - Politics - on". B92.net. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2015-12-05.

External links

Coordinates: 42°41′26″N 21°07′25″E / 42.69056°N 21.12361°E / 42.69056; 21.12361

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