Draft:Alush Gashi

Alush Gashi was born on 4th of October, 1950, in the village of Prigodë in the Municipality of Istog. Alush Gashi, is an eminent figure, having forged an illustrious career as the Founder and Chairman of the Institute on Foreign Relations, alongside holding the esteemed position of Senior Peace Fellow at the Public International Law and Policy Group. Beyond the current positions, Dr. Gashi, was one of the founding fathers of Kosovo's movement for liberation and independence. He was one of the founders of the Kosovo's Democratic League (LDK) and close advisor to the first President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova. In the post-war period, Dr. Gashi has held multiple political positions such as, LDK parliamentary chief and as inaugural Minister of Health of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. His expertise spans a diverse array of fields, including Medicine, Foreign Affairs, Politics, Human Rights, Conflict Prevention, and Policy Analysis, reflecting his rich background and profound knowledge.

Educationally, Gashi obtained his Medical Doctor degree from the University of Prishtina in 1974, followed by a Master of Medical Sciences in 1977 and a Doctor of Medical Sciences degree from the University of Zagreb in 1979. He further honed his skills with specialization in General Surgery and postdoctoral research at the Cardiovascular Research Institute of the School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, from 1981 to 1984. His professional journey seamlessly intertwines academia and politics, wherein he served as a distinguished professor, Chairman of the Department of Anatomy, General Surgeon, and Dean of the Medical Faculty at the University of Prishtina from 1988 to 1992.

Amidst his academic endeavors, he fervently opposed the oppressive measures of the Serbian regime against Kosova during the nineties, assuming various roles from human rights activist to Majority Leader of the Parliament of Kosova. Gashi played a significant role in the struggle of Kosovo Albanians for self-determination. Throughout the nineties, he ardently raised global awareness regarding the dire human rights violations in Kosova, pioneering initiatives such as establishing a "parallel system" to deliver education and services within private homes, countering the discriminatory policies of the Serbian regime and amplifying these concerns on the international stage.

In 1989, as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Prishtina, he became part of the founding of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). He was a member of LDK and participated in negotiations to avoid war. He also served as a senior advisor and close associate of Ibrahim Rugova, as well as the LDK's Secretary for Foreign Relations. Even after the war in Kosovo, he remained politically active. In the 2007 elections, Mr. Gashi was among the most voted representatives in the Kosovo parliament. Mr. Gashi is a signatory of the declaration of independence, and between November 2007 and April 2010, he held the position of Minister of Health. Mr. Gashi practices the profession of an anatomy professor and was elected a member of the LDK's general council in 2019. After a several-year break from public office, in June 2020, Mr. Gashi was elected as the political advisor to Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti. Mr. Gashi's extensive experience in foreign politics is considered to make him a person with strong international connections, especially with the USA.

In February 2021, with the election of Lumir Abdixhiku as the chairman of the LDK, Prof. Dr. Alush Gashi was re-elected for another term as a member of the LDK's General Council. He is the oldest member of the LDK's General Council, a party in which he has been since its founding day. In June 2021, Prof. Dr. Gashi founded the Institute for Foreign Relations, where he holds the position of the chairman of the board. The Institute for Foreign Relations is the first institution of its kind aimed at stimulating an intensive debate on Kosovo's foreign policy. Zëri newspaper reported that in November 2021, Prof. Dr. Gashi launched the institute by holding the first meeting with diplomats from Southeast Europe, where they exchanged views on how Kosovo could unlock its membership at the multilateral level and diplomatic recognition. In 2023, Prof. Dr. Gashi was elected as one of the members in the leadership of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).