Kiro Gligorov

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Kiro Gligorov

First president of Macedonia, credited with achieving a peaceful independenceAmong the Yugoslav republics that opted for independence in 1991-92, only Macedonia achieved its goal without war, and that success was due, in great part, to the negotiating skills and experience of its first president, Kiro Gligorov, who has died aged 94. This crowning achievement came when the ex-communist politician was already in his mid-70s, and after he had come out of more than a decade of semi-retirement.