Biographical, literary and political notes

Ibrahim Rugova was born on December 2, 1944 in the village named Cerrcë, in the municipality of Istog. On January 10, 1945 the Yugoslav communists shot his father Ukë and grandfather Rrustë Rugova, who had been famous fighter against Chetnik bands who were penetrating into Kosovo during World War II.

Ibrahim Rugova finished elementary school in Istog and secondary school in Peja in 1967. He graduated form the Faculty of Philosophy - Department of Albanian Language and Literature in Prishtina. During the academic year 1976-77 he stayed in Paris, at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, under the supervision of prof. Roland Barthes, where he attended his scholarly interests in the study of literature with a focus on literary theory. He defended his doctorate dissertation in the field of literature at the University of Prishtina, in 1984. In 1996 Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was elected correspondent of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Kosovo. At the beginning he was editor of the student newspaper “Bota e Re” (New World) and of the scientific journal “Dituria” (Knowledge) (1971-72), which were published in Prishtina. A while he worked for the newsletter “Fjala” (The Word). Then, for nearly two decades, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova conducted his own scientific activities at the Institute of Albanology as literature researcher. For a time he was chief editor of the magazine “Gjurmime Albanalogjike” (Albanological Tracking) of this Institute. With literary creativity he was engaged from the early sixties.

Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, in 1988, was elected chairman of the Kosovo Writers' Association, which became a powerful core of the Albanian movement, which challenged the Serbian and Yugoslav communist rule in Kosovo.

As a famous intellectual who gave voice to this intellectual and political movement Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was elected on December 23, 1989, from the founding, president of the Democratic League of Kosovo, the first political party in Kosovo which directly challenged the ruling Communist regime. DLK, under the leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, quickly became the leading political force in Kosova, gathering most of the people around him. In cooperation with other Albanian political forces in Kosovo as well as with the Assembly of Kosovo of that time, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova and the DLK concluded the legal framework for the institutionalization of the independence of Kosovo. The Declaration of Independence (2 July 1990), declaration of the Republic of Kosovo and approval of its constitution (7 September 1990), the national referendum for the independence and sovereignty of Kosovo, held in late September 1991, was the prelude for the first multiparty elections for the Assembly of Kosovo, held on May 24, 1992. Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was elected President of the Republic of Kosovo. Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was reelected President of the Republic of Kosovo in the elections held in March 1998.

Under the leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Rugova the DLK won the majority of votes in the first local internationally-sponsored elections in post-war Kosovo in October 2000, the first national elections in 2001 and the second local elections in 2002. DLK also won the national elections in 2004.

Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was elected President of Kosovo in March 2002 and was reelected in 2004

Dr. Ibrahim Rugova passed away on 21 January 2006 in Prishtina and was buried in Sunny Hill with the highest honors of the people Kosovo.

At the death anniversary of Ibrahim Rugova, on January 21, 2007, the President of Kosovo, Dr. Fatmir Sejdiu, awarded the historical President of Kosovo with the Order “Hero of Kosovo”, the highest distinction in our country given to Kosovar and Albanian historical figures who have done “acts of courage for the freedom and independence of Kosovo.”

Ibrahim Rugova ka botuar këto vepra:

- Prekje lirike (Lyrical touch), Rilindja, Prishtina, 1971,
- Kah teoria (Towards theory), Rilindja, Prishtina, 1978,
- Bibliografia e kritikës letrare shqiptare (bibliography of the Albanian literary criticism) 1944-1974, Institute of Albanalogy, Prishtina, 1976 (together with Isak Shema),
- Kritika letrare (Literary Criticism) (from De Rada to Migjeni), Rilindja, Prishtina, 1979 (together with Sabri Hamiti),
- Strategjia e kuptimit (The strategy of understanding), Rilindja, Prishtina, 1980
- Vepra e Bogdanit (The work of Bogdani) 1675-1685, Rilindja, Prishtina, 1982,
- Kahe dhe premisa të kritikës letrare shqiptare (Directions and premises of the Albanian literary criticism) 1504-1983, Institute of Albanalogy, Prishtina, 1986
- Refuzimi estetik (Esthetical refusal), Rilindja, Prishtina, 1987,
- Pavarësia dhe demokracia (Independence and democracy), Fjala, Prishtina, 1991,
- Çështja e Kosovës (The Kosovo issue), Dukagjini, Peja, 1994,
- Kompleti i veprave të Ibrahim Rugovës në tetë vëllime (The set of works of Ibrahim Rugova in eight volumes), Faik Konica, Prishtina, 2005

International awards and titles of Ibrahim Rugova:

- In 1995, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was awarded the peace award Paul Litzer Foundation in Denmark.
- In 1996, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was declared Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) of the University of Paris VIII, Sorbonne, France.
- In 1998, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize.
- In 1999, Dr. Rugova took the Peace Prize of the city Mynster, Germany, and was declared honorary citizen of the Italian cities: Venice, Milan and Brescia.
- In 2000, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova received the prize for peace of the Democratic Union of Catalonia "Manuel Carrasco of Formiguerra" in Barcelona, Spain.
- In 2004 Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was awarded the European Award, Honorary Senator of the pan-European Foundation Coudenhove-Kalergi.
- He was also honored from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (USA), “Friend of the United States of America.”
- In 2004, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was declared Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) of the University of Tirana.

Fatmir Sejdiu was born on October 23, 1951 in Pakashtica, the municipality of Podujevo, Kosovo. He finished his primary and secondary education in Podujevo.

He graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Pristina, in 1974, where he finished the postgraduate studies, and has defended his doctoral dissertation.

He was professors at the Faculty of Law and at the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Prishtina with the call of Ordinary professor for 33 years. For in-depth studies he has stayed in France (University “Paris 2”, in 1984, the Section of History of the Institutions of Economics, Philosophy and Sociology of Law and history of political ideas) and in the USA (Arizona State University, for 4 months) and has had shorter study stays at other universities. He has published many scientific works from the legal, historical and legal-constitutional field and special books of these areas.

Fatmir Sejdiu has been participant of the establishing Assembly of the Democratic League of Kosovo (DLK) on December 23, 1989. At the first party convention, in 1991, he was elected member of the General Council and in 1992 member of the presidency of the DLK, while in 1994 Secretary General of the DLK. He also exercised this function from 2004 till 2006.

On December 9, 2006 he was elected President of the Democratic League of Kosovo, a post which he exercised until 2010.

He was a member of the Central Commission for the organization of the Referendum for the independence of Kosovo held in 1991.

He was elected deputy in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo in 1992 and 1998. Likewise, in 1998 he was elected Secretary General of the Assembly and President of the Committee for Constitutional Issues. In 2001, at the first democratic elections since the war, he was elected deputy in the Assembly of Kosovo and member of the Assembly Presidency, in which textures he was re-elected again in 2004.

On February 10, 2006, Fatmir Sejdiu was elected President of the Republic of Kosovo with two-thirds of the votes of the deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo.

He has led the Unity Team, in the negotiations before determining the final status of the Republic of Kosovo.

He has held lectures in important scientific institutions in the world, as in Arizona State University, Oxford Union, LSE London, Leuven, Tirana, World Affairs Council - San Francisco, Harvard University and other institutions.

On June 2006, the State University of Tirana awarded Dr. Fatmir Sejdiu the title of Doctor Honoris Causa.

On November 3, 2008, President Sejdiu was honored by the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bamir Topi, with the Order “Gjergj Kastrioti Scanderbeg”.

On November 5, 2008, President Sejdiu has received the Award "Honorary Citizen of Shkodra.

 On February 23, 2009, President Sejdiu, at Arizona State University, was awarded the “Distinguished Global Leadership” award.

Likewise, in April 2011, he was honored with the title Doctor Honoris Causa from the State University of Sakaryas in Turkey.

He communicates in Albanian, French, English, Serbo-Croatian, Bulgarian, and Macedonian. He is married and has three children. He lives in Prishtina.

On September 27, 2010, he resigned as President of the Republic of Kosovo.

Date, place of birth, family: 30 August 1951, Marec, Pristina. Son to Isa and Nazmije. Married to Masha, Russian-Swiss citizen of Buryat- Tatarian descend. Parent to five children: three daughters and two sons (Arbëresha, Selena, Hana, Isa and Diar).

Education:  Elementary and secondary education, the Normal High School and Gymnasium in Pristina).

1970-1973 Institut für Außenhandel, Hamburg Universitat, Foreign Trade Institute, Hamburg University

1982-1983 Master in Marketing and Management –Mösinger Zurich Institute.

Professional profile: 1974-1975 Foreign Language Correspondent with the Directorate of Development, Textile Combine, Gjilan.

1976 Commercial Director in the Peter Zimmern Company, Austria.

Interplastica Project Engeneering Company in Morbio Inf. Switzerland.

1977-1983 Commercial Director

1983-1990 Director General

1990-2009 Founder and President of Mabetex Project Engineering, Lugano, Switzerland.

1992-2009 President of CRS-Credito per lo sviluppo e ristrutturazione, Lugano Switzerland; President of Mabo Construction. President of Swiss Diamond Hotel Management, Bermuda; Co Krueger Hoch–Tiefbau, Berlin; Co Interfin Finance, London; Co Mabetex International (covering 18 world countries); Owner of  Siguria Insurance Company, Pristina; Shareholder in the Economic Bank, Pristina; Owner of Saranda Properties; Co Sine Tempore International; Co BK Anstalt Lichtenstein; Co Diamond Travel; 2009 withdraws from his managerial mandate from all his companies, and remains only an owner of shares regulated according to the legislation of the states in which companies operate.

Other functions:  
Main Sponsor of Aleksandër Moisiu Foundation; Founder of Per i Bambini Di Sakha Foundation and orphanages  
Promoter and founder of: FORK – Foundation for the Organization and Reconstruction of Kosovo,  Lugano, Pristina;
Founder of Albanian Businessmen’s Union, Lugano;
2004-2007 Founder of SEED, South-East Europe Development Fund, Washington (a fund that has promoted and lobbied for independence of Kosovo);
Member Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, Permanent Consultant to the Committee led by Henry Kissinger;
Founder of Ibrahim Kodra Youth Foundation, Lugano;
The New Kosova Alliance Lobbying Organization, Washington, (2005-2007);
Behgjet Pacolli Foundation, Pristina;
Founder and President of the New Kosova Alliance (AKR) political party (2007);
Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (2007-2010);
Member of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo (2011).
           
Humanitarian activities:
1993 - Founder and sponsor of a hospital that provides care to abandoned children born with physical problems in Sakha);
1999 – In cooperation with Ms. Fanfani and Children of Peace Foundation, intervenes in providing mass relief to the displaced from Kosovo in Kukës, Ivangrad and elsewhere;
1999 – Support to hospitals in Kosovo with medicines and medical equipment;
2000-2004 – Support for building the KPC infrastructure in Pristina and supply with professional equipment;
2005 – Support for building the memorial centre in Penuhë, Podujeva;
2004 – Release of hostages in Afghanistan (Shqipe Habibi’s case);
2006 – Release of Gabrielle Torsello, a journalist that had been taken hostage in Afghanistan;
2008-2011 – Permanent lobbying for the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state (over 20 recognitions);
2007 – Contribution to the release of 23 Korean hostages in Afghanistan;

Some activities carried out by the Behgjet Pacolli Foundation: planning, sponsoring and financing the entire structure of the American University in Kosovo (AUK);
Sponsoring the expansion of the Faculty of Philology in Pristina;
Sponsoring cultural and heritage projects in Kosovo;
Sponsoring sports in Kosovo;
20 regular scholarships (in Kosovo and abroad);
Complete contribution for the construction of shelters for poor families;
Assistance in sending dozens of patients abroad for medical treatment per year;
Social assistance to invalids and persons in need (monthly payments);
Construction of Ibrahim Kodra Museum in Pristina (in progress);
Daily assistance to the people in need;
   
Acknowledgments:
KPC Decorations;
Acknowledgments and honorary titles from the Rochester University of Technology;
Decorations from the AUK (American University in Kosovo)
High decorations from the State of Peru, the President of Peru;
Highest state decoration from the Russian Federation (architectural appraisals), the second foreign citizen to receive the award after the American ARMAND HAMMER;
Honorary citizen of Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan;
Liberia’s Global Honorary Consul (2002-September 2010);
2009 – Ambassador of Peace (Universal Peace Federation);
2010 – Millennium’s Global Knight of Peace; also awarded by Centro Internazionale per la Pace fra i Popoli (International Centre for Peace Among Peoples) to Mikhail Gorbachev, Perez De Cuellar, S.S. Giovanni Paolo II, Luciano Pavarotti, Helmut Kohl, Mother Theresa of Calcutta, Kofi Annan, Bill Gates, etc;
Acknowledgment from the Nelson Mandela Foundation;
Acknowledgment from the Clinton Global Initiative Foundation.
   
Languages:     

Mother tongue: Albanian

Foreign languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Serbo-Croatian.

President Atifete Jahjaga was born on the 20th of April 1975 in Rashkoc – Gjakova. Mrs. Jahjaga was Deputy General Director of the Police of Kosovo from february 2009 until her election as President of the Republic of Kosovo, on April 7, 2011. Since the establishment of the Kosovo Police in early 2000, initially she served as a policeman, progressing at a regional level and that of the General Headquarters.

During her earlier career, President Jahjaga has served in key positions in the implementation of law and order in the professional standards unit, then assistant of the deputy director of the Kosovo Police, assistant of the head of human resources, special executive assistant of the Deputy Commissary for the Administration of the Kosovo Police, Deputy Commander of the Border Police of the Kosovo Police, head of training department, assistant of the Deputy Commissary of the P.K. Border Police, assistant of the Deputy Commissary of the Kosovo Police for personnel and training.

She finished primary and secondary school in Prishtina, where she also completed her studies at the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina, In 2000. in 2006-2007, she attended a postgraduate certification program in Police Management and Penal law at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, Postgraduate Certification in Crime Science at the University of Virginia in the U.S.A., in the year 2007.

Currently she is continuing master studies in the direction of International Relations at the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina. As an addition to these studies she has attended professional and research programs at the European Centre for Security Studies “George C. Marshall” Germany, at the National Academy of the FBI in the U.S.A. and at the Department of Justice in the U.S.A.

In addition to the albanian language (native), President Atifete Jahjaga also masters english and serbian. President Atifete Jahjaga is married to mr. Astrid Kuçi and lives in Prishtina.

He lives in Prishtina, Kosovo, with his wife Lumnije and son Endrit. 

Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu was born on May 17, 1982 in Mitrovica, Republic of Kosovo. She completed elementary and high school in Mitrovica. She graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Prishtina. She completed her Master and Doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, USA.

She was elected a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo in four terms, becoming the most voted woman in the history of parliamentary elections and the second most voted politician in the parliamentary elections in Kosovo. In previous terms, she chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Standing Committee on European Integration and was the Deputy Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Reform.

On February 3, 2020, Vjosa Osmani was elected the first woman Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo. On November 5, 2020, Vjosa Osmani becomes Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo.

During 2006-2010, Vjosa Osmani served as Chief-of-Staff to the President Sejdiu and Senior Advisor on Legal Affairs and Foreign Affairs. She has represented the President in the Commission for the drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. She was a member of the team of the Republic of Kosovo in the case before the International Court of Justice regarding the declaration of the independence of Kosovo.

Since 2006 she has been lecturing at the Faculty of Law of the University of Prishtina, while she has also taught at the University of Pittsburgh in the USA as a visiting professor. For several years she has also taught at RIT - Kosovo (AUK), AAB – Riinvest College and has held thematic lectures at other universities in Europe and the USA.

She has been honored by the University of Pittsburgh with the Sheth International Award. She is a member of the Board of the Parliamentary Network of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and a member of the Steering Committee of the young MPs of the World Bank and the IMF.

She speaks English, Turkish, Serbo-Croatian and communicates in Spanish. She is married to Prindon Sadriu and have twin daughters, Anda Elisa Sadriu and Dua Tiara Sadriu. She lives in Prishtina. 

Glauk Konjufca was born in July 1981, in Prishtina. He majored in Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Prishtina.

He has been an activist of the Lëvizje VETEVENDOSJE (Self-Determination Movement) since its founding. He is a scholar of philosophy and among many papers in this field, he published the book “the owl of Minerva flies at dusk, G.W.F. Hegel”. In 2010 he was elected MP of the Lëvizje VETEVENDOSJE in the 4th legislature of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. During 2011-2014 he was Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo.

In 2014 he was elected MP and was appointed Head of the Parliamentary Group of the Lëvizje VETEVENDOSJE. During the same year, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Assembly until 12 March 2015. During the 5th legislature, he was Deputy Head of the Committee for Economic Development, Infrastructure, Trade and Industry in the Assembly of Kosovo. During the 6th legislature, he was elected Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Lëvizje VETEVENDOSJE, and was a member of the Committee for Economic Development and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

In the elections of October 2019, Mr Konjufca was elected MP and on 26 December of the same year, he was nominated and elected Speaker of the Assembly of Kosovo until 3 February 2020. Upon formation of the Kurti's Government, Glauk Konjufca was appointed Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora until June 2020.

He is married and has two children.