Behgjet Pacolli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Behgjet Pacolli
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Pacolli in 2015
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| 2nd President of Kosovo | |
| In office 22 February 2011 – 4 April 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | Hashim Thaçi |
| Preceded by | Jakup Krasniqi |
| Succeeded by | Atifete Jahjaga |
| First Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo | |
| In office 15 April 2011 – 9 December 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Hashim Thaçi |
| Preceded by | Hajredin Kuçi |
| Succeeded by | Hashim Thaçi |
| In office 9 September 2017 – 3 February 2020 |
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| Prime Minister | Ramush Haradinaj |
| Preceded by | Hajredin Kuçi |
| Succeeded by | Avdullah Hoti |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 9 September 2017 – 3 February 2020 |
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| Prime Minister | Ramush Haradinaj |
| Preceded by | Emanuel Demaj (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Glauk Konjufca |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 August 1951 Pristina, FPR Yugoslavia (now Pristina, Kosovo) |
| Political party | New Kosovo Alliance (2006–February 2011; April 2011–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (February–April 2011) |
| Spouse | Masha Pacolli |
| Children | 6 |
| Signature | .svg) |
| Website | www.behgjetpacolli.com |
Behgjet Isa Pacolli (born 30 August 1951) is a Kosovar Albanian politician and businessman. He has held important roles in Kosovo's government. These include serving as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was also a former President of Kosovo.
Pacolli is known for being a major owner of Mabetex Group. This is a large company that builds things all over the world. He also leads the New Kosovo Alliance political party in Kosovo. Many believe he is the richest ethnic Albanian in the world. He has even helped in difficult situations, like getting hostages released.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Behgjet Pacolli was born in 1951. He is the second of ten children. He finished his primary school in Marec and high school in Prishtina. He is from Kosovo but also has Swiss citizenship. He got this in 1992.
After studying in Hamburg, Germany, he joined the Yugoslav army. Then, he worked for an Austrian company. He was a sales representative in several countries. Later, he moved to Switzerland. He continued his studies in Zurich. He learned a lot about marketing and management. Pacolli speaks many languages, including English, French, German, and Russian.
His Career Journey
In 1974, Pacolli started working at a textile company in Gjilan. He worked there as a foreign language correspondent. He also helped with development. In 1975, he moved to Western Europe. He wanted to find more career opportunities.
From 1976 to 1980, he held important leadership jobs. He worked for companies in Austria and Switzerland. In 1990, he started his own construction company. It was called Mabetex Project Management. This company grew into the large Mabetex Group. It now works in many areas like banking and media.
Mabetex worked on big projects in Russia. They renovated famous buildings like the White House and the Kremlin. Pacolli also started business in Kazakhstan. His company built new buildings in Astana.
Helping Kosovo Become Independent
During the Kosovo War in the late 1990s, Pacolli helped a lot. He organized aid and gave money to help people. In 1999, he created a foundation to help rebuild Kosovo.
In 2005, he started a group called "The New Kosovo Alliance". This group worked to help Kosovo become an independent country. Pacolli worked with many important world leaders. He met with American leaders like Henry Kissinger. They worked to create the right conditions for Kosovo's independence.
In June 2007, US President Bush said that "Kosovo must be a country, an independent republic, now." Pacolli and his group felt their mission was successful. After Kosovo declared independence in February 2008, Pacolli kept working. He traveled worldwide to convince other countries to recognize Kosovo.
New Kosovo Alliance Political Party
On 17 March 2006, "The New Kosovo Alliance" became a political party. In the 2007 elections, it became the third-strongest party. It helped Kosovo declare independence on 17 February 2008. Pacolli became a member of Kosovo's Assembly. He was also on the Committee for Budget and Finance.
Becoming President
On 22 February 2011, Pacolli was chosen as the 3rd president of the Republic of Kosovo. Early in his presidency, he visited Mitrovica. He went to the Serb-majority area of North Kosovo. This showed Kosovo's authority there. As president, he also visited Albania and Macedonia.
He left the role on 4 April 2011. This happened after the Constitutional Court of Kosovo ruled that his election was not done correctly. The court said that a formal election needs two candidates. Also, at least 80 deputies must vote for a candidate. This ruling helped improve Kosovo's legal system.
Role as Deputy Prime Minister
After leaving the presidency, Pacolli became the first deputy prime minister. In this role, he worked to get more countries to recognize Kosovo. He also worked to bring foreign investments. He met with over 100 presidents, prime ministers, and kings.
In February 2015, the President of Albania gave Pacolli an award. It was called Nderi i Kombit (Honor of the Nation). This was for his work in getting Kosovo recognized. It also recognized his help with economic ties between Kosovo and Albania.
From September 2017 to February 2020, Pacolli was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He met with important leaders like Federica Mogherini. He discussed creating Serb Municipalities for the Serb minority in Kosovo. He also supports peaceful economic ties with Serbia.
In December 2019, Pacolli and his wife met Pope Francis in the Vatican. They talked about peace between different groups in Kosovo. They also discussed the Kosovo War.
Helping Hostages
Pacolli has helped free hostages several times. He has been involved in situations in Afghanistan and other conflict areas. He is known as one of the few people who can successfully negotiate with groups holding hostages.
In 2004, three United Nations workers were taken hostage in Kabul. One of them was from Kosovo. Pacolli traveled to Afghanistan and spent a month negotiating. He is credited with helping to get them released.
In 2006, an Italian journalist was kidnapped in Afghanistan. Pacolli was asked by an Italian agency to help. He successfully negotiated the journalist's release. In 2007, he helped negotiate the release of South Korean missionaries in Afghanistan. He also tried to help free Swiss citizens held hostage in Libya in 2010. In 2011, he helped free an American-Kosovar lobbyist from prison in Eritrea.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Pacolli has done a lot of charity work. His Behgjet Pacolli Foundation helps young people get good education. It also helps those in need. The foundation builds schools and hospitals. It supports sports and culture too. In 1993, he started "Les Enfants du Sakha." This fund helps children with medical care and education. The Behgjet Pacolli Foundation has given over 20 million euros to projects in Kosovo.
He has supported other foundations and orphanages. Since 1993, he has helped a hospital for children with disabilities in Sakha.
Since 2006, Pacolli has funded many building projects in Kosovo. He helped renovate the Parliament Building in Prishtina. He also funded the American University in Kosovo campus. In 2008, he paid for the restoration of the Mosque of Llap in Prishtina. The next year, he funded the expansion of the College of Philosophy at the University of Prishtina. In 2017, he suggested a big plan to renovate Prishtina.
Honours and Awards
- 2002 – 2006: Member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
- 2002 – 2010: Honorary Diplomat of Liberia
- 2009: Peace Ambassador of the Universal Peace Federation
- 2010: Cavalier del Millennio per la Pace ("Knight of Peace of the Millennium"), Italy
- 2010: Honorary Citizen of Lezha
- 2011: Gusi Peace Prize, Philippines
- 2012: Honorary Citizen of the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- 2012: Chancellor's Gold Medal, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- 2012: Keys to the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana
- 2012: Honorary Citizen of Korça
- 2014: Special Leadership Award from POLIS University
- 2015: "The Acknowledgement of the City of Tirana" honour
- 2015: Kazakh President "2015 Constitution of Kazakhstan" Medal
- 2015: Nderi i Kombit, awarded by Bujar Nishani
- 2015: Albanian Honor of Nation Order
- 2016: Order of the Kazakh President Kurmet
- 2018: Doctor Honoris Causa in Economics, awarded by the Ismail Qemali University of Vlorë
- 2018: Honorary Citizen of Kukësi
- 2019: "Mother Teresa" High Award
- 2019: Acknowledgment from US President Bill Clinton
- 2022: Key to the city of Tirana
- Certificate of appreciation from the AUK (American University in Kosovo)
- Nelson Mandela Foundation Award
- Rochester Institute of Technology Honorary Degree
- Doctor honoris causa of European University of Tirana
- Honorary Citizen of Astana, Kazakhstan
Images for kids
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Pacolli in Afghanistan, 2004
See also
In Spanish: Behgjet Pacolli para niños
