Balkan Superheroes: The Zen Buddhist of Balkan madness

Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate the Balkans from politics. *Here even small kids are intoxicated with political party choices. *A more unfortunate fact is that these politics are mostly wrong. I love the Balkans, but I still haven't decided whether beautiful landscapes and people can cover up the bad feelings I have for the history of wars and the corruption style of politics going on here. In this kind of darkness, it’s easy to find people that shines, so here is my hero, the Zen Buddhist of the Balkan madness.

Kiro Gligorov

The first president of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, by one Macedonian director was described as “the Zen Buddhist of Balkan madness” and I don't think this figure can be better described. Often, as additional info for Macedonia, you will find either “the country that has the infinite fight with Greece because of the name” either “the only Yugoslavian country that separated without a war”. The second description is my preference, of course. Whose decision was this? Kiro Gligorov, my politician superhero, decided to shoulder the protest of the mothers of the soldiers that were supposed to take part in the army (military support for the war in Yugoslav area) and announced that he is taking back every Macedonian soldier to their home. During his career, he acted wise and calm, always on the side of multiculturalism and peace.

He survived an assassination in 1995, and since then he had a characteristic scar on his forehead. He died at the age of 94 and spend 70 years in creating wise and peaceful politics, no matter how intense the conditions are. He is marked in the Guinness book as the oldest president in the world, and in Zlata’s book as a really respectful strategist and politician. Thank you for all.