Boris Trajkovski Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Boris Trajkovski Борис Трајковски GCMG
Trajkovski in 2002

2nd President of Macedonia
In office 19 November 1999 – 26 February 2004
Prime Minister	Ljubčo Georgievski Branko Crvenkovski
Preceded by	Kiro Gligorov
Succeeded by	Branko Crvenkovski

Personal details
Born	(1956-06-25)25 June 1956 Strumica, PR Macedonia, Yugoslavia
Died	26 February 2004(2004-02-26) (aged 47) Berkovići, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Political party	VMRO-DPMNE
Spouse	Vilma Trajkovska (m. 1985; 2004; his death)
Alma mater	Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

Boris Trajkovski (pronounced bɔ'ris tra'jkɔfski; 25 June 1956 – 26 February 2004) was a politician from North Macedonia. He served as the second President of Macedonia from 1999 until he died in a plane crash in 2004.

Boris Trajkovski was born into a Methodist family. His father, Kiro, was a landworker. Boris graduated in 1980 with a law degree from the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. He then focused on business and work laws. He also visited the United States several times to study theology and become a Methodist minister.

After his studies, the government at the time sent him to a faraway village because of his religious activities. There, he helped a poor community of the United Methodist Church of Macedonia. Later, after political changes in the 1980s, he led the legal department of a construction company in Skopje. He was also the youth secretary for the Methodist Church in the former Yugoslavia for over 12 years. He later became President of the Church Council of the Macedonian Evangelical Methodist Church. From 1988, he took part in a youth exchange program with a Methodist church in England. In 1991, he studied English in Bournemouth, England.

Becoming a Politician
- His Time as President
His Death
Awards and Recognitions
See also

Becoming a Politician

Trajkovski became active in politics after the Republic of Macedonia became independent from Yugoslavia in November 1991. He joined the VMRO-DPMNE party. He helped the party build relationships with other European political parties. He was made Chairman of the party's Foreign Relations Commission. In 1997, he became the Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Kisela Voda, a part of Skopje. On 21 December 1998, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, a role he held for less than a year.

Because he was known as a calm and modern leader, Trajkovski was chosen as VMRO-DPMNE's candidate for president. This election took place in November 1999 to find a new president after Kiro Gligorov. In the election on 14 November 1999, Trajkovski won against Tito Petkovski. He was supposed to start his job on 19 November. However, there was a disagreement about the results. So, the parliamentary chairman, Savo Klimovski, was acting president until the issues were resolved a month later.

His Time as President

During Trajkovski's time as president, there were some disagreements between ethnic Macedonians and the large ethnic Albanian minority in the country. After the Kosovo War, there were months of armed clashes in 2001. Albanian groups wanted better rights and conditions. Even though his powers were limited, President Trajkovski helped to create a peace deal in 2001. This deal was supported by NATO and stopped the violence, preventing a full civil war in the Republic of Macedonia.

He was seen as a fair leader who wanted to include ethnic Albanians more. Many people believe he was very important in solving the conflict. Boris Trajkovski's friend and advisor was his chief of staff Zoran Jolevski. Jolevski later became the Macedonian Ambassador to the United States.

In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gave him an honorary award called the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. Also in 2002, the World Methodist Council gave Trajkovski the World Methodist Peace Award. They gave him this award for his work in bringing peace and stability to his country.

His Death

Trajkovski plane crash
Accident summary
Date	26 February 2004
Summary	Controlled flight into terrain likely caused by inclement weather
Place	Poplat, Berkovići, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Passengers	7
Crew	2
Fatalities	9
Survivors	0
Aircraft type	Beechcraft Super King Air 200
Airline/user	Republic of Macedonia
Registration	Z3–BAB

President Trajkovski died on 26 February 2004 in a plane crash. He was flying to an economic meeting in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The plane crashed in thick fog and heavy rain on a mountainside. This happened near the villages of Poplat and Vrsnik, about 15 kilometers (8 miles) south-south-east of Mostar. He is the only President of North Macedonia to die while still in office.

Eight other people were also on the plane, and sadly, no one survived the crash. The plane broke into three pieces. The area where it crashed had many hidden dangers from a war in the 1990s. This made rescue efforts very difficult. Also, the runway in Mostar is tricky to use in bad weather.

After his death, a state funeral was held in his honor. On his gravestone, there is a Bible verse that says, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God." His family continues his work through the Boris Trajkovski Foundation.