Bamir Topi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bamir Topi
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Topi in 2008
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| President of Albania | |
| In office 24 July 2007 – 24 July 2012 |
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| Prime Minister | Sali Berisha |
| Preceded by | Alfred Moisiu |
| Succeeded by | Bujar Nishani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 April 1957 Tirana, PR Albania |
| Political party | Democratic Party (1990–2007, 2023–Present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Teuta Mema
(m. 1982) |
| Parents | Riza Topi (father), Haxhire Karapici (mother) |
| Alma mater | Agricultural University of Tirana |
| Signature | .svg) |
Bamir Myrteza Topi, born on April 24, 1957, is an Albanian diplomat and politician. He was the President of Albania from 2007 to 2012.
Before becoming president, Mr. Topi was the honorary president of the Albanian football club KF Tirana. This was from 2005 to 2007. In September 2012, he became the leader of the New Democratic Spirit political party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bamir Myrteza Topi was born in Tirana, Albania. His parents were Riza Topi and Haxhire Karapici. Both sides of his family are from Tirana. His family originally followed the Muslim faith.
He graduated from the Agricultural University of Tirana. He studied veterinary studies and later earned a PhD in the same field. A PhD is a very high university degree.
Career Before Politics
In 1984, Mr. Topi started working as a Scientific Researcher. He worked at the Institute of Veterinary Scientific Researches. From 1987 to 1990, he studied in Italy. He focused on Molecular Biology during this time.
After returning from Italy, he became the Director of the Food Safety and Veterinary Institute. He held this job until 1995. Besides his research, he also taught at the Veterinary Medicine Faculty. He taught subjects like Toxicology and Pharmacology for about ten years.
Political Career
Bamir Topi was first elected to the Albanian Parliament in 1996. He then became the Minister of Agriculture and Food. He served in this role until 1997.
He was elected to the Assembly of Albania three times. He was a candidate for the Democratic Party of Albania. For two terms, Mr. Topi led the Democratic Party's group in the Assembly. He was also the vice-chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania. This party was led by Sali Berisha.
People saw Mr. Topi as a calm and fair politician. He was known for helping to solve problems. He often helped bring together the ruling party and the opposition. He also started many political agreements and parliamentary ideas.
Becoming President
On March 8, 2007, Mr. Topi announced he would run for president. He was the candidate for the ruling Democratic Party. Other parties, like the Demochristian and Republican parties, supported him.
The parliament needed four tries to elect a president. The opposition, led by the Socialist Party, did not vote at first. On July 8, Mr. Topi received 75 votes. This was not enough, as 84 votes were needed.
The second vote was on July 10. Again, the parliament could not elect a president. Mr. Topi got 74 votes. On July 14, another vote happened. This time, Mr. Topi received 50 votes. Another candidate, Neritan Ceka, got 32 votes.
Finally, on July 20, in the fourth round, some opposition members supported Mr. Topi. He won with 85 votes. This meant he was elected as the President of Albania for five years. He officially started his job on July 24, 2007.
After becoming president, Mr. Topi officially left his role as vice-chairman of the Democratic Party. He also left the party itself.
Support for Kosovo's Independence
Mr. Topi strongly supported Kosovo becoming an independent country. He spoke to the European Council and other international groups. He explained why Kosovo needed to be a sovereign state.
In January 2009, Mr. Topi visited Kosovo for three days. He was invited by Kosovo's President, Fatmir Sejdiu, and the head of the UN mission. During his visit, he was named an honorary citizen of Pristina, the capital city. He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pristina.
Awards and Recognitions
Bamir Topi has received several honors and awards:
Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav (from Croatia, for helping relations between Albania and Croatia – April 7, 2009)- Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Pristina (January 25, 2008)
- Honorary Citizen of Pristina (January 26, 2008)
- Honorary Citizen of Burrel
- Honorary Citizen of Gjakova, Kosovo
See also
In Spanish: Bamir Topi para niños
- Presidents of Albania
