17 Facts About Nikola Kljusev

Nikola Kljusev was a Macedonian politician and professor of economics who served as the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia from March 20,1991, to September 5,1992, following the country's independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Nikola Kljusev was born in Stip, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, on October 2,1927.

Nikola Kljusev graduated from the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Economics in 1953, before obtaining his doctorate in economics at the same university in 1964.

Nikola Kljusev was the best man of Jordan Mijalkov, the first interior minister of Macedonia.

Nikola Kljusev became an associate professor of the University of Skopje's Faculty of Economics in 1968 before becoming a regular professor in 1972.

Nikola Kljusev became the dean of the faculty in 1985, serving until 1987.

Nikola Kljusev was elected as a member of the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1988, presiding over the Council of Demographic Research.

Nikola Kljusev authored the books Koristenje na proizvodnite kapaciteti vo industrijata na SR Makedonija and Efektivnost na investicite vo industrijata na SR Makedonija, and co-authored Ekonomske funkcije federacije, Antiteza, and Pogledi i promeni.

Nikola Kljusev became the first Prime Minister of Macedonia on March 20,1991.

Nikola Kljusev contributed to the peaceful establishment of Macedonian statehood during the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav Wars.

Nikola Kljusev was a non-partisan prime minister, and, thus, was not a member of any political party while in office.

Nikola Kljusev was elected President of the Council of VMRO-DPMNE in 1997.

Nikola Kljusev returned to public office as the Defence Minister, from 1998 to 2000, in the government led by Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski.

Nikola Kljusev advocated for Macedonia's accession into NATO, the deployment of NATO troops in Macedonia, and military cooperation with Albania.

Nikola Kljusev died in his home in Skopje, Macedonia, on January 16,2008, at the age of 80.

Nikola Kljusev was buried in the Alley of the Great at the Butel cemetery in Skopje, following a funeral officiated by the head of the Macedonian Christian Church, Archbishop Stephen of Ohrid.

Nikola Kljusev was honoured posthumously with the Order 8-September by the Macedonian president Gjorge Ivanov in March 2011 for his contribution to the development of the independent Macedonian state.