President of Kosovo. He was born in Cerrcë, Kosovo and died in the capital city of Pristina. He was a founding member and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo and was a former member of the Communist Party. He was educated in Paris, France and earned a doctorate in the history of literary criticism and Albanian literature. He was the recipient of the 1998 Prize for Freedom of Thought. He was an advocate for peaceful change and Albanian self determination in Kosovo against Serbian opposition to Albanian independence. He was held under house arrest during the 1999 Kosovo Civil War. He was elected President of Kosovo in March 2002 and was the target of two assassination attempts while in office. He died from lung cancer at the age of 61.

President of Kosovo. He was born in Cerrcë, Kosovo and died in the capital city of Pristina. He was a founding member and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo and was a former member of the Communist Party. He was educated in Paris, France and earned a doctorate in the history of literary criticism and Albanian literature. He was the recipient of the 1998 Prize for Freedom of Thought. He was an advocate for peaceful change and Albanian self determination in Kosovo against Serbian opposition to Albanian independence. He was held under house arrest during the 1999 Kosovo Civil War. He was elected President of Kosovo in March 2002 and was the target of two assassination attempts while in office. He died from lung cancer at the age of 61.

Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.