Petrit Selimi
{{Short description|Kosovar Albanian politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2011}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Petrit Selimi
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|order =
|office = Minister of Foreign Affairs
{{small|Acting}}
|term_start = 7 April 2016
|term_end = 5 June 2016
|predecessor= Hashim Thaci
|successor= Enver Hoxhaj
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|05|01|df=y}}
|birth_place = Pristina, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
|death_date =
|death_place =
|nationality = Kosovan
|spouse = Arlinda Selimi
|party = Democratic Party of Kosovo
|relations =
|children = Rrok Trim Selimi
|residence = Prishtina, Kosovo
|alma_mater = BA in Social Anthropology from University of Oslo
Master of Science in Media and Communication from London School of Economics (Ongoing).
|occupation =
|profession =
|religion =
|website = [https://millenniumkosovo.org/mfk-ceo-petrit-selimi-is-awarded-a-prestigious-gmf-fellowship/ Petrit Selimi, Millennium Foundation Kosovo]
}}
Petrit Selimi (born 1 May 1979 in Pristina, Kosovo) is a former Kosovar Albanian politician, who has served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo. He's now a private entrepreneur and an author.{{Cite web|url=https://nationalinterest.org/feature/kosovo-united-states-risks-snatching-defeat-jaws-victory-208813?page=0%2C1|title = SELIMI: In Kosovo, the United States Risks Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory|date = February 27, 2024 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/former-kosovo-foreign-minister-how-to-stop-serbia-spat-from-spiraling-out-of-control/|title = Former Kosovo foreign minister: How to stop Serbia spat from spiraling out of control|date = August 1, 2022 }} He initially served in the position of a Deputy Foreign Minister during two consecutive mandates, under Prime Ministers Hashim Thaci (2011–2014) and Isa Mustafa (2014-2017). After the election of the former Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci as a President of Kosovo, Selimi was named the country's Foreign Minister.
Selimi has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Foundation Kosovo,{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcc.gov/news-and-events/slideshow/slideshow-112017-kosovo-mfk-launch|title = Launching the Millennium Foundation Kosovo}} (2017-2023) Kosovo's biggest foundation, responsible for implementing the programs financed by the US federal agency Millennium Challenge Corporation. He is also a Fellow at German Marshall Fund of United States and a recipient of the Chevening Scholarship of Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCO).
In his previous job as country's Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister Selimi has initiated several noted diplomatic initiatives including Kosovo's award-winning Digital Diplomacy program as well as Interfaith Kosovo initiative. Wired Magazine called Selimi "a pioneer in digital diplomacy."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/08/pushing-the-boundaries-of-digital-diplomacy-in-kosovo/|title=Pushing the Boundaries of Digital Diplomacy in Kosovo | WIRED|magazine=Wired|publisher=wired.com|accessdate=September 14, 2015}} He was also selected as the "team-leader of the year 2013 in digital diplomacy" in the global survey by Turkish magazine Yeni Diplomasi.{{cite web|url=http://thepublicdiplomat.com/2013/12/30/yeni-diplomasis-review-of-digital-diplomacy-in-2013/|title=Yeni Diplomasi's Review of Digital Diplomacy in 2013 | The Public Diplomat|publisher=thepublicdiplomat.com|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-12-11/kosovo-cant-get-recognition-un-it-can-get-it-facebook|title=Kosovo can't get recognition from the UN, but it can get it from Facebook | Public Radio International|publisher=pri.org|accessdate=September 14, 2015}} In recent press coverage in Huffington Post, Selimi was also noted as a prominent promoter of global interfaith dialogue.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-stanton/petrit-selimi-unsung-inte_b_7511168.html|title=Petrit Selimi Unsung Interfaith Hero | HUFFINGTON POST|date=June 4, 2015|publisher=huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}
Career
As a children's rights activist in his teens,{{Cite web|url=https://petrits.substack.com/p/we-were-landlocked-lifelocked-mindlocket|title = History of Activism: We were landlocked, lifelocked, mindlocked...|date = January 31, 2024 }} Selimi in 1995 co-founded "Postpessimists", the first network of youth NGOs in the former Yugoslavia. The organization later won Global Youth Peace and Tolerance Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.y2kyouth.org/Global/award03.html|title=デポリング|publisher=y2kyouth.org|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}
After finishing studies in Norway, Selimi returned to participate in various civic initiatives, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Soros Foundation in Kosovo. He later helped found Balkan Children and Youth Foundation, serving for two terms as a member of the Board of Directors, alongside President Martti Ahtisaari, CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour and others.{{cite web|url=http://balkanyouth.org/how_we_began.html|title=Balkanyouth.org|publisher=balkanyouth.org|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}
Selimi was also one of the founders of the daily newspaper Express, serving as the first publishing director of this daily newspaper. In 2004 he co-founded Stripdepot, comics bookshop/cafe, situated in downtown Pristina.{{cite web|url=http://www.easterneuropeancomics.com/kosovo/stripdepot-cafe/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418021223/http://www.easterneuropeancomics.com/kosovo/stripdepot-cafe/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 18, 2010|title=Stripdepot Cafe | Eastern European Comics|publisher=easterneuropeancomics.com|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}{{cite book|title=Kosovo|author1=Warrander, G.|author2=Knaus, V.|date=2007|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=9781841621999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GCRjKdrmqqEC&pg=PA106|page=106|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}
Selimi worked as private public relations consultant in Kosovo,{{cite journal|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2008/0219/p12s01-woeu.html|title=Young Kosovars hope to shape newly declared state - CSMonitor.com|journal=Christian Science Monitor|date=February 19, 2008|publisher=csmonitor.com|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2010505,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818094401/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2010505,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 18, 2010|title=Kosovo Begins to Find an Independent National Identity - TIME|publisher=Time|access-date=September 14, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/obstacles-burden-new-kosovo-state-young-population |title=Obstacles burden new Kosovo state, young population | the Daily Texan |accessdate=2010-10-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830034627/http://www.dailytexanonline.com/content/obstacles-burden-new-kosovo-state-young-population |archivedate=August 30, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/pristina-s-music-scene-comes-of-age|title=Pristina's Music Scene 'Comes of Age' :: Balkan Insight|date=September 30, 2010|publisher=balkaninsight.com|accessdate=September 14, 2015}} until June 2011, when he got appointed by the Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi as a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa-ks.net/index.php?page=2,127|title=Petrit Selimi - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Kosovo|publisher=mfa-ks.net|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/10/25/feature-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025182818/http://setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/10/25/feature-01 |archive-date=2011-10-25 |url-status=dead|title=Kosovo seeks recognition from Arab states (SETimes.com)|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21532306|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013205707/http://www.economist.com/node/21532306 |archive-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=dead|title=The pull of Brussels | The Economist|newspaper=The Economist |accessdate=September 14, 2015}} Selimi was also the initiator of the installation of the memorial stone dedicated to Kosovar Jews who perished in the Holocaust, erected by the gates of the Kosovo Parliament.{{Cite web|url=https://prizrenpost.com/en/kosovo-a-model-of-inter-faith-tolerance-engel/|title = 'Kosovo, a model of inter-faith tolerance'- Engel|date = July 2015}}
Personal life
Petrit Selimi is married with Arlinda Selimi since 2010. They have a son Rrok Trim Selimi. They live and work in Pristina.
Awards
In 2019, Petrit Selimi has received the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship 2019, provided by the German Marshall Fund.{{Cite web|url=https://millenniumkosovo.org/mfk-ceo-petrit-selimi-is-awarded-a-prestigious-gmf-fellowship/|title = MFK CEO Petrit Selimi is awarded a prestigious GMF Fellowship|date = December 26, 2018}}
The Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) is GMF’s flagship leadership development program and previous alumni include President Emmanuel Macron of France and EU’s former Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gmfus.org/press-releases/2018-marshall-memorial-fellows-announced|title = 2018 Marshall Memorial Fellows Announced|date = May 2018}}
In 2016, Selimi was awarded the prestigious global Doha Award for Interfaith Dialogue, in a ceremony organized by the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue. The Award was granted to Selimi by the Qatar Minister of Justice.
In 2014 Selimi was honored as Knight Commander of Royal order of Francis I, bestowed to him by Vatican's nuncio to the United Nations Cardinal Martino of Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, for Selimi's role in promoting interfaith dialogue and tolerance.
In 2008 Selimi won a Chevening Scholarship from the British Council enabling him to undertake studies at London School of Economics.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_borrell_in_the_western_balkans Blog page of Petrit Selimi at European Council on Foreign Relations]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101015234622/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1132773-3,00.html Profile of Petrit Selimi in Time Magazine 2005]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100801034455/http://www.gazetaexpress.com/web/index.php/editorial/kol/C80/C67/ Petrit Selimi's columns in Daily Express]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110826070712/http://roadtrip.submarinechannel.com/content/view.jsp?itemid=10322 Article on Selimi in Dutch webzine]
- [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/pristina-s-music-scene-comes-of-age Interview with Selimi in Balkan Insight magazine, published by BIRN]
- [http://gazetaexpress.com/?cid=1,23,40419 Interview with Selimi in Express daily newspaper]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100721150557/http://www.stripdepot.com/ Home page of the comic's inspired cafe, founded by Petrit Selimi]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110901032639/http://www.kosovotwopointzero.com/en/authors/petrit-selimi Blog page of Petrit Selimi, in Kosovotwopointzero, Kosovo's blog generator]
- [https://petrits.substack.com/ The Balkan Bubble, a page with the articles written by Petrit Selimi]
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Category:Politicians from Pristina
Category:Foreign ministers of Kosovo