Nikola Kljusev
Nikola Kljusev Никола Кљусев | |
---|---|
![]() Nikola Kljusev as prime minister promoting the first Macedonian currency in 1992 | |
1st Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia | |
In office January 27, 1991 – August 17, 1992 | |
President | Kiro Gligorov |
Preceded by | None |
Personal details | |
Born | October 2, 1927 Štip, Yugoslavia |
Died | January 16, 2008 (aged 80) Skopje, Macedonia |
Political party | Non-partisan (while in office) VMRO-DPMNE |
Nikola Kljusev (Macedonian: Никола Кљусев) (October 2, 1927 – January 16, 2008) was a Macedonian academician and politician. Kljusev served as the first Prime Minister of Macedonia from January 27, 1991 until August 17, 1992, following the country's independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.[1][2]
Early life
Nikola Kljusev was born in Štip, then part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and today in the Republic of Macedonia, on October 2, 1927.[2] He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics in 1953, before obtaining his doctorate in economics at the same university in 1964.[2] Kljusev's doctoral thesis was "Criteria and Methods for Assessment of Economic Effectiveness of Investments".[3]
Economics
Kljusev began his career in economic academia as an assistant at the Institute for Industrial Scientific Research.[3] He later served as a researcher and director of the Economics Institute in Skopje.[2] Kljusev also served as a professor and dean of the Skopje Faculty of Economics.[2] Kljusev was elected to the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences (MANU) in 1988 and remained at the organization until his death in 2008.[3]
Politics
Nikola Kljusev served as the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia for 19 months in 1991 and 1992 following the country's separation from Yugoslavia.[2] Kljusev is credited with ushering Macedonia through a largely peaceful transition to full inpendendence.[2] Macedonia's independence was in sharp contrast to the violent wars that engulfed other nations of the former Yugoslavia, such as Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, during the 1990s.
Under Kljusev's leadership (and background in economics), the denar was introduced as Macedonia's new national currency.[2] He also headed the difficult negotiations to withdraw the Yugoslav military of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from Macedonia as Prime Minister.[2]
Kljusev was an non-partisan prime minister, and, thus, was not a member of any political party while in office. (non-partisan). He later joined VMRO-DPMNE, a major Macedonian political party, after leaving office. He was elected President of the Council of the VMRO-DPMNE in 1997.
Nikola Kljusev returned to public office later as the Defence Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, from 1998 until 2000.[2]
Death
Nikola Kljusev died in Macedonia on January 16, 2008. His death was announced by the Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts (MANU).[2][3]
Kljusev was buried in the Alley of the Greats at Butel cemetery in Skopje, Macedonia following a funeral officiated by the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stephen of Ohrid.[1] The government of Macedonia declared January 18, 2008, as a national day of mourning.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Macedonia bids farewell to its first prime minister Kljusev". Makfaxonline.com. 2008-01-18. Archived from the original on 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "From the Associated Press: Nikola Kljusev obituary". Associated Press. Legacy.com. 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- ^ a b c d "First Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Kljusev passed away Kljusev". Macedonian Radio Television. 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- 1927 births
- 2008 deaths
- People from Štip
- Macedonian Defence Ministers
- Prime Ministers of the Republic of Macedonia
- Eastern Orthodox Christians from the Republic of Macedonia
- Members of the Macedonian Orthodox Church
- Macedonian economists
- University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics alumni
- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity politicians