Irfan Ljubijankic
Encyclopedia
Dr. Irfan Ljubijankić was a Bosnian
facial surgeon, classical music composer, politician and diplomat. He was a good friend of Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens
).
Ljubijankić was born in Bihać
, Bosnia, the town in which he lived for most of his life. He graduated from the University of Belgrade
's School of Medicine
and became a medical doctor specializing in ear, nose and throat treatments. In 1990 as Bosnia was preparing to secede from Yugoslavia
, he was elected to the Bosnian parliament and became a leading member of the Bosniak-dominated Party of Democratic Action
. He temporarily left politics in 1992 after the beginning of the war between the Bosnian
government and the Bosnian Serbs, in order to serve as a medical doctor in Bihać, where shelling by the Serbs caused many facial injuries among the populace.
Ljubijankić remained an active medical doctor until October 1993 when he became foreign minister
of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He traveled widely to help gain international support for the country. Shortly before his death, he represented Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 50th anniversary celebration of the end of World War II
in London
on May 1, 1995. He was killed when his helicopter was shot down by a missile over Cetingrad
, Croatia
, a town near the Bosnian border which was being held by Krajina Serbs at that time. He was flying from Bihać to Zagreb
, Croatia's capital, on government business, and the 6 other people on the helicopter also died. Ljubijankić was married and had two children.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
facial surgeon, classical music composer, politician and diplomat. He was a good friend of Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
).
Ljubijankić was born in Bihać
Bihac
Bihać is a city and municipality on the river Una in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. Bihać is located in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...
, Bosnia, the town in which he lived for most of his life. He graduated from the University of Belgrade
University of Belgrade
The University of Belgrade is the oldest and largest university of Serbia.Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it merged with the Kragujevac-based departments into a single university...
's School of Medicine
University of Belgrade School of Medicine
The Belgrade Medical School is a constituent institution of the University of Belgrade, which offers a wide range of academic courses in Serbian and English, including specialist practice within a network of hospitals, institutes and medical clinics...
and became a medical doctor specializing in ear, nose and throat treatments. In 1990 as Bosnia was preparing to secede from Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, he was elected to the Bosnian parliament and became a leading member of the Bosniak-dominated Party of Democratic Action
Party of Democratic Action
The Party of Democratic Action is a Bosniak national political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:The Party of Democratic Action was founded in May 1990 by Alija Izetbegović, representing the Bosnian Muslim population...
. He temporarily left politics in 1992 after the beginning of the war between the Bosnian
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
government and the Bosnian Serbs, in order to serve as a medical doctor in Bihać, where shelling by the Serbs caused many facial injuries among the populace.
Ljubijankić remained an active medical doctor until October 1993 when he became foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He traveled widely to help gain international support for the country. Shortly before his death, he represented Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 50th anniversary celebration of the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on May 1, 1995. He was killed when his helicopter was shot down by a missile over Cetingrad
Cetingrad
Cetingrad is a municipality in Karlovac County, Croatia near Croatia's border with Bosnia. The population of the village itself is 351, while the total municipality population is 2,746...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, a town near the Bosnian border which was being held by Krajina Serbs at that time. He was flying from Bihać to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia's capital, on government business, and the 6 other people on the helicopter also died. Ljubijankić was married and had two children.