Riza Sapunxhiu

Riza Sapunxhiu
6th Prime Minister of Kosovo
In office May 1980 – May 1982
Preceded by	Bahri Orući
Succeeded by	Imer Pula
Personal details
Born	15 March 1925(1925-03-15) Peć, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present day Kosovo[a])
Died	6 September 2008(2008-09-06) (aged 83) Peć, Kosovo[a]
Nationality	Yugoslav of Albanian ethnicity
Political party	League of Communists of Kosovo

Riza Sapunxhiu (Serbo-Croat: Riza Sapundžiju) (15 March 1925 – 6 September 2008) was a Kosovo Albanian communist politician and economist of the former Yugoslavia. He was born in Peć, at the time in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister of Kosovo prior to becoming its representative in the Yugoslav Presidency.

From 1980 to 1982, Sapunxhiu served as Prime Minister of Kosovo.^[1] In 1981, he headed the Kosovar delegation in a historical visit to Albania. This visit paved the way for closer relations between Albania and the Albanian community in Kosovo and the Albanian community in the Former Yugoslavia.^[2]

As a successful economist, in 1982, Sapunxhiu became an official at the World Bank.^[3]

When the Yugoslav crisis began, he opposed the idea of a civil war and did not effectually vote, though he was registered as voting pro. Nevertheless, the civil war was not declared due to opposition by other members of the presidency.^[4]

If the Yugoslav Wars had not broken out, Sapunxhiu could haven taken over as chairman of the presidency.^{[citation needed]}

Notes and references

a.	^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. The latter declared independence on 17 February 2008, while Serbia claims it as part of its own sovereign territory. Its independence is recognised by 85 UN member states.

1. ^ Worlds Statesmen - Yugoslavia
2. ^ A New Righ In Albanian-Kosovar Relations
3. ^ Kosovo: CHAPTER ONE
4. ^ YouTube - Broadcast Yourself

Preceded by Sinan Hasani	Kosovar member of the Yugoslav Presidency 15 May 1989 – 20 March 1991	Succeeded by Sejdo Bajramović
Preceded by Bahri Oruçi	Prime Minister of Kosovo 1980–1982	Succeeded by Imer Pula

Persondata
Name	Sapunxhiu, Riza
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	15 March 1925
Place of birth	Peć, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present day Kosovo)
Date of death	6 September 2008
Place of death	Peć, Kosovo