Boris Trajkovski (1956-2004) was inaugurated as a second president of the Republic of Macedonia on December 15th 1999, after the country had declared independence in 1991. His predecessor was Kiro Gligorov. Boris Trajkovski was born in Strumica, on June 25th 1956. Boris Trajkovski was married to Vilma Trajkovska and is father of two children, a daughter Sara and a son Stefan.

Boris Trajkovski has completed high-degree education at the Faculty of Law, in the University of “Sts. Cyril & Methodius” in Skopje, in 1980. Boris Trajkovski specialized in Commercial and Employment Law. Being a student he went on several study visits to the USA.

Until 1997, Boris Trajkovski was the head of the Legal Department of the construction company “Sloboda” in Skopje. In the period 1997-1998, Boris Trajkovski was chief of Cabinet of the Mayor of the municipality of Kisela Voda in Skopje. On December 21st 1998, he is chosen for Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of Ljubco Georgievski. The political experience he used extremely good in the function of vice minister for foreign affairs. His work in the government consisted in establishing international contacts, with other governmental structures.

During the Presidential elections in 1999, Boris Trajkovski was a candidate of the VMRO-DPMNE political party, lead by Ljubco Georgievski. Boris Trajkovski was member of VMRO-DPMNE since 1992. In the period of 1992 to 1999 by work of the leader of the party, he leads the commission for foreign politic of VMRO-DPMNE. Boris Trajkovski had an excellent success in that work. From the year of 1993, he takes closer the political diplomacy between VMRO-DPMNE and the political parties in the USA and western Europe, and establishes contacts with leaders of political parties in Germany, France, Great Britain, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and other countries. His work has improved the international rating of his political party.

The President Trajkovski had won a nationwide approval as deputy foreign minister during the Kosovo crisis in 1999, during the influx of 300,000 ethnic Albanian refugees, from the Serbian province of Kosovo. In 1999, Boris Trajkovski called on the international community to immediately help Macedonia to better tackle the refugee crisis and relief this country of such burden.

The legacy of Boris Trajkovski that is emerging has two aspects: one, as the populist president who defended Macedonia; and two, as the beacon of human rights and inter-ethnic understanding who lit the way for Macedonia’s entry into the European Union. These views are respectively those of the Macedonian people and the international community.

Boris Trajkovski died in a terrible plane crash on February 26th 2004, going on an International Investment (Economic) Conference in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Boris Trajkovski Last Interview

Boris Trajkovski – Plane Crash

The US-made aircraft carrying Trajkovski and his associates, left the Petrovec airport in Macedonia at 6:48 AM on February 26th 2004. The aircraft that had to take the President Boris Trajkovski to an international investment conference in Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina, flied on a line through Skopje-Albania-Serbia Montenegro-Bosnia, when suddenly disappeared from the radar screens as was approaching the city (Mostar). In 8:01 the aerial control of SFOR looses the plane from the radar in the Stolac area, 30 km southern of Mostar. Bosnian officials have said that the plane crashed into Bosnian mountains in thick fog and confirmed that the executive jet had disappeared from radar screens about 8:01 AM. The crash was located the next day, on February 27th, on the point 524 in the are of the Husković village, 15 away from Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The Macedonian delegation was supposed to take part in an investment conference, the same day. The officials have confirmed that there were no survivors, all the 7 passengers including the President and the 2 pilots have died: Boris Trajkovski (the President of Macedonia), Marko Markovski (pilot), Branko Ivanovski (copilot), Dimka Ilkova-Boshković (presidential advisor), Risto Blaževski (presidential advisor), Anita Krišan-Lozanovska (presidential advisor), Boris Velinov (presidential bodyguard), Ace Božinovski (presidential bodyguard) and Mile Krstevski (presidential advisor). The death of the President of Macedonia shocked the European and World-Wide public.

Macedonia’s Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski criticized NATO’s Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) for making some communication faults during the investigation of the plane crash that claimed the life of President Boris Trajkovski on February 26th.

Boris Trajkovski – Plane Crash Details

Date & Time: Feb 26, 2004 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft: Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator: Macedonian Government
Registration: Z3-BAB
Flight Phase: Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type: Government
Survivors: No
Site: Mountains
Schedule: Skopje-Mostar
MSN: BB-0652
YOM: 1980
Location: Mostar East Herzegovina
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Region: Europe
Total fatalities: 9
Circumstances: The twin engine aircraft was carrying the Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski to an international conference in Mostar. The aircraft crashed by night in a mountainous terrain near Stolac, Bosnia. It was difficult for the rescue teams to reach the crash site due to mines field.

Boris Trajkovski Funeral

The coffin with the remains of the Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski was brought from Sarajevo airport with an U.S. Aircraft on March 3rd 2004 and it was taken to the Hall of the Assembly of the Republic. On March 5th 2004, at 11:55 AM, the coffin was put on a vehicle in front of the Assembly, which passed through the Dimitrija Čupovski street, 11 Oktomvri, Kočo Racin & Krste Petkov-Misirkov boulevard, Cvetan Dimov street Hristijan Todorovski-Karpoš, Bosna i Hercegovina, Aleksandar Urdarevski and Boca Ivanova street which ends at the Gradski Grobišta Butel (Butel City Cemetery), as the Arbored Walk of the Greats. The coffin with the remains of the President Boris Trajkovski, was followed by the National Guard as well as Army Orchestra then his family and relatives, representatives of the Government and General Headquarters of the Army and behind them many citizens wishing to pay last respect to the President.