Riza Sapunxhiu

Riza Sapunxhiu (Serbo-Croat: Riza Sapundžiju) (15 March 1925 - 6 September 2008) was a Kosovo Albanian communist politician and economist of the former Yugoslavia. He was born in Peć, at the time in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister of Kosovo prior to becoming its representative in the Yugoslav Presidency.

From 1980 to 1982, Sapunxhiu served as Prime Minister of Kosovo. In 1981, he headed the Kosovar delegation in a historical visit to Albania. This visit paved the way for closer relations between Albania and the Albanian community in Kosovo and the Albanian community in the Former Yugoslavia.

As a successful economist, in 1982, Sapunxhiu became an official at the World Bank.

When the Yugoslav crisis began, he opposed the idea of a civil war and did not effectually vote, though he was registered as voting pro. Nevertheless, the civil war was not declared due to opposition by other members of the presidency.

If the Yugoslav Wars had not broken out, Sapunxhiu could haven taken over as chairman of the presidency.