Kiro Gligorov was born May 3, 1917 in Shtip, Republic of Macedonia. He originates from an urban family, actively involved in the national liberation movement in Macedonia in the past and the beginning of this century.

He completed secondary education in the Skopje Gymnasium, and graduated from the University of Belgrade in 1938. During the period of his studies, actively participated in the students' movement in Belgrade. After graduation, he returned to Skopje, where he worked as an attorney in a private bank.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, he actively took part in the anti-fascist and people's liberation movement in Macedonia. A member of the People's Liberation Struggle (Narodno Osloboditelna Borba) from 1941. Member of ASNOM (Anti-fascist Assembly of the National Liberation Movement of Macedonia). 1944-1945 he is appointed in charge of finances of the Presidium of ASNOM, at the time of the proclamation of the Macedonian State. Member of AVNOJ (Anti-fascist Assembly of the National Liberation Movem ent of Yugoslavia).

Following the end of the Second World War and the proclamation of the People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Federativna Narodna Republika Jugoslavija), he is sent by the leadership of the people's Republic of Macedonia to Belgrade. From 1945 to the beginning of the 60s, holds specialized executive functions in the spheres of economy and finance:

• Assistant General Secretary in the Government of the People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945-1947) Assistant Minister of Finance in the Ministry of Finance of the People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1952-1953)
• Deputy Director of the Federal Institute for Economic Planning (1953-1955)
• Secretary of the Federal Executive Council for Economic Issues
• Federal Secretary of Finance (1962-1967)
• Vice President of the Federal Executive Council (1967-1969)

In the upcoming period, however, he is active in conducting theoretical research and socio-economic studies pertaining to the market economy. Throughout this period he was involved as:

• member of the Council of the Institute for International Politics and Economy
• President of Institute for Social Sciences
• participant in numerous specialized conferences in Yugoslavia and the world and published numerous articles in specialized publications

• member of the Presidency of the Socialist Federal republic of Yugoslavia (1974-1978)
• President of the Parliament of the Socialist Federal republic of Yugoslavia

At the onset of the crises in Yugoslavia (1989-1990) he makes a come back in the political life of Macedonia, promoting multi-party elections and the introduction of a market economy. These activities resulted in his election as President of the Republic of Macedonia, on the first free, multi party elections held on January 27, 1991.

While in office as President of the Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Macedonia has:

• Proclaimed its independence on a general referendum on September 8,1991.
• Through this act, the Republic of Macedonia became the only Republic of the former SFR Yugoslavia to attain its independence though a peaceful and legitimate manner
• Declared its new Constitution on November 17, 1991 - the document establishing the foundations of a civil society, legal state, parliamentary democracy and market economy.
• Succeeded in having the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) leave its territory though agreement (spring 19920, thus making the Republic of Macedonia the only one of the Republic which did not participate in the war in the former Yugoslav region.
• Fulfilled its centuries old ideal for attaining an equal place in the international family of nations.
• On April 13, 1993, the Republic of Macedonia became a member of the Organization of the United Nations.

The difficulties that President Gligorov faced in the period leading up to the outbreak of full-scale war between Serbs and Croats in June 1991 were especially acute. He understood that in the event of a violent collapse of Yugoslavia, Macedonia would come under the greatest pressure and, in all probability, be the central theater of war. Obviously Bosnia was the most vulnerable because it formed a wedge between the two main belligerents - Serbs and Croats, neither of whom disguised their territorial claims on the republic. But Macedonia is still threatened for the same reasons.

Macedonia succeeded, during the time of President Gligorov, to leave the Yugoslav federation without bloodshed. President Gligorov also negotiated the voluntary withdrawal of the Yugoslav People's Army by the end of April 1992 (this, of course, coincided with the beginning of major offensives in Bosnia-Herzegovina).

On the level of representation in government, President Gligorov has worked hard to integrate the main Albanian political parties into the Macedonian state.

On October 3, 1995, around 9:45 AM, an attempt on the life of the President of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, was made. His motor vehicle was damaged by a car bomb activated in the vicinity of the Bristol Hotel as the vehicle was passing. Several citizens were injured and considerable damage was done to the houses in the vicinity. The President's chaauffeur was killed in the attack, while the President was immidiately conveyed to hospital. The police had closed off the country's borders. A photo robot had been made of the suspect driving the car. The case is still open.

President Gligorov returned to his presidential duties at the beginning of this year, after appearing for the first time in the public sfter the attempted assassination on Orthodox Christmas mass in the Archbishopic Church of St. Clement of Ohrid, in Skopje, Macedonia.

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