Nikola Kljusev

Nikola Kljusev was born in Štip, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, 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]

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]

Nikola Kljusev served as the first Prime Minister of Macedonia for 19 months in 1991 and 1992 after the split of the Federation.[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 Federation 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 Army military of the Federation from Macedonia as Prime Minister.[2]

Kljusev was a non-partisan prime minister, and, thus, was not a member of any political party while in office. 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, from 1998 until 2000.[2]

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 Christian Church, Archbishop Stephen of Ohrid.[1] The government of Macedonia declared January 18, 2008, as a national day of mourning.[1]