Kiro Gligorov

Infobox_President
name=Kiro Gligorov
Киро Глигоров
nationality=Macedonian


imagesize = 189px
caption = Kiro Gligorov, Official Signed Portrait
order=1st President of the Republic of Macedonia
term_start=January 27, 1991
term_end=November 19, 1999
predecessor=Himself as a President of SRM (Jan 27, 1991-Jun 7 1991)Gligorov became president on January 27 1991, when the official name of the country was still SR Macedonia - [http://www.mia.com.mk/portal/page?_pageid=113,160569&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&prikaz=22&VestID=18237491 "On This Day" - Macedonian Information Agency] , see: 1991: The official change of the state's name mk icon] [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at the Official website of the President of the Republic of Macedonia] ]
successor=Boris Trajkovski
birth_date=birth date and age|1917|5|3
birth_place=Štip, Kingdom of Serbia (now Republic of Macedonia)
death_date=
death_place=
spouse=
political party=none
religion=Macedonian Orthodox|

Kiro Gligorov ( _mk. Киро Глигоров, audio-IPA|Mk-Kiro Gligorov.ogg| [ˈkirɔ ˈgligɔrɔf] ), born May 3, 1917 in Štip, then Kingdom of Serbia (now the Republic of Macedonia), was the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Macedonia.

Biography

He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at the Official website of the President of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia] ] and was a participant in the Anti-fascist struggle of the ethnic Macedonians from 1941 [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at the Official website of the President of Republic of Macedonia] ] . He was a participant in the formation of the state of Socialist Republic of Macedonia (now Republic of Macedonia) [ [http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=2&tabid=1&EditionID=210&ArticleID=8304 The list of ASNOM participants, "Nova Makedonija" daily newspaper, issue 20254, August 3, 2004] ] as a secretary of the Initiative committee [ [http://217.16.70.245/?pbroj=1497&pr=15&stID=16880 Interview, "Utrinski vesnik" daily newspaper, issue 1497, August 31, 2006 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia] ] for the organization of the Antifascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) and a finance commissioner in the Presidium of ASNOM [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at the Official website of the President of Republic of Macedonia] ] .

He held various high positions in the political establishment of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at The Official website of the President of Republic of Macedonia] ] , including a secretary of State for finance in the Federal executive Council [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at the Official website of the President of Republic of Macedonia] ] , a member of the Yugoslav Presidency [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at the Official website of the President of Republic of Macedonia] ] as well as President of the Assembly [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov at the Official website of the President of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia] ] of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Pluralism

After the promotion of parliamentary democracy in the country in 1990, he became the first democratically elected president of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia on January 27, 1991. On April 16, 1991 the parliament adopted the constitutional amendment for removing the "Socialist" adjective from the official name of the country, and on June 7 the same year, the new name Republic of Macedonia was officially established, hence Gligorov continued his presidency as a President of the Republic of Macedonia. Gligorov became president on January 27 1991, when the official name of the country was still SR Macedonia - [http://www.mia.com.mk/portal/page?_pageid=113,160569&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&prikaz=22&VestID=18237491 "On This Day" - Macedonian Information Agency] , see: 1991: The official change of the state's name mk icon]

President of independent state

He served for two terms, from January 27 1991 to November 19, 1999. He was re-elected for his second term in office on November 19, 1994. He led his country to independence proclaimed after the referendum held on September 8, 1991 and tried to keep it out of the Yugoslav wars, a task made difficult by disputes with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria and Greece who all faced separate issues with the country.

Assassination attempt

On October 3, 1995, Gligorov was the target of a car bomb assassination attempt in Skopje. The vehicle carrying Gligorov was damaged by an explosion from another vehicle parked alongside the road which served as a regular route by which he travelled from his residence to his office. Gligorov was injured and his face was badly scarred, with a major gash above his right eye.

There have been no suspects brought to light and no progress made on the case. There have only been short-lived speculations as to the culprits. Briefly, just after the attempt the Minister of Internal Affairs of Republic of Macedonia Ljubomir Frčkovski publicly claimed that "a powerful multinational company from a neighboring country" was behind the assassination attempt of Kiro Gligorov on 3 October 1995,cite web |url=http://www.mrt.com.mk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1224&Itemid=26 |title=11th anniversary of assassination attempt on Gligorov, perpetrators unknown |date=2006-10-03 |accessdate=2006-10-22 |publisher=MRT] with the Macedonian media pointing at the Bulgarian Multigroup and the Yugoslav KOS as possible suspects. During a meeting between Multigroup head Iliya Pavlov and Gligorov in Ohrid, Pavlov assured the then President of the Republic of Macedonia that his organization was not involved. All investigations were futile.

Gligorov was incapacitated until November 17, 1995. He is now permanently blind in one eye as a result. Stojan Andov was acting president during Gligorov's recuperation.

The election for Gligorov's successor took place only a few days before the end of his term, and because of disputed results the winner, Boris Trajkovski, did not take office until the following month.

Trivia

The 2000 "Guinness World Records" lists Kiro Gligorov as the oldest ever president of a country, staying in power until he was 82 years old.

References

External links

* [http://www.president.gov.mk/gligorov_e.asp#top Biography of Kiro Gligorov on the official website of the President of the Republic of Macedonia]
* [http://faq.macedonia.org/politics/kiro.gligorov.html Biography of Kiro Gligorov]