Riza Sapunxhiu

Riza Sapunxhiu (15 March 1925 – 6 September 2008) was a Kosovar communist politician and economist. He served as deputy prime minister and prime minister of Kosovo prior to becoming its representative in the Yugoslav Presidency.

Riza Sapunxhiu
3rd Member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia for SAP Kosovo
In office
15 May 1989 – 21 March 1991
Preceded bySinan Hasani
Succeeded bySejdo Bajramović
6th Prime Minister of Kosovo
In office
May 1980 – May 1982
Preceded byBahri Oruçi
Succeeded byYmer Pula
Personal details
Born(1925-03-15)15 March 1925
Peć, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Died6 September 2008(2008-09-06) (aged 83)
Peja, Kosovo[a]
NationalityYugoslav of Albanian ethnicity
Political partyLeague of Communists of Kosovo

Born in Peć, Sapunxhiu was an ethnic Albanian. From 1980 to 1982, he 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 rest of Yugoslavia.[2]

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

When the Yugoslav crisis began, he supported the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia but did not effectually vote, though he was registered as voting pro. Nevertheless, the state of emergency was not declared due to opposition by other members of the presidency.[4]

Notes
a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008. Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Kosovo is currently recognized as an independent state by 98 out of the 193 United Nations member states. In total, 113 UN member states recognized Kosovo at some point, of which 15 later withdrew their recognition.

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