Behgjet Pacolli

Behgjet Pacolli (born in Marec, Prishtina) is the son of Isa and Nazmije, the second of ten children, married to Mrs. Masha Pacolli. He is the father of three daughters (Arbresha, Selena, Hana) and three sons (Isa, Diar and Arman). He completed his primary education in Marec and high school in Prishtina. He is Kosovo Albanian by ethnicity but has a Swiss citizenship as well. After receiving his bachelor's degree from the Hamburg Institute of Foreign Trade in Hamburg, Germany (1970-1973), in 1974, he completed his military service in the Yugoslav army and returned to Kosovo.

Behgjet Pacolli went to graduate school at the Mösinger Zurich Institute, where he received his master's degree in Marketing and Management (1980-1982). He speaks various foreign languages, including: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Serbo-Croatian.[4][5]

In 2018, Pacolli said in Vienna that his ancestors used to be Orthodox Christians,[6] before converting to Islam.

In 1974, Behgjet Pacolli started his career as a Foreign Language Correspondent and Deputy Director for Development at the Textile Enterprise in Gjilan. He held this position until 1975 when he once again left Kosovo to move to the West to pursue career opportunities.

From 1976 to 1980, Behgjet Pacolli held important management positions in several companies, such as, Commercial Director for Regional Development of the company Peter Zimmer in Kufstein, Austria, Commercial Director of Interplastica Project Engineering in Morbio Inf., Switzerland, and afterwards he was named General Director at the same company (Interplastica).

In the fall of 1990, he founded Mabetex Project Management, a construction company based in Lugano, Switzerland, which has developed into a large business group now called the Mabetex Group, with interests in construction, banking, insurance, hospital, media, design, etc.[7]

Throughout his career in global business, Behgjet Pacolli also developed philanthropic activities. Through the foundation which holds his name, he stimulates the education of youth in elite schools, helps the poor, builds schools, hospitals, supports sports, culture, etc. In 1993, Pacolli established "Les Enfants du Sakha", presently known as "Ibrahim Kodra Foundation" a fund with the stated goal of providing help in the medical care, education and recreation of children.[24] Several times, Pacolli has also been directly involved in the release of hostages in Afghanistan and in other countries undergoing conflict. In 2004, three United Nations workers were taken hostage in Kabul, Annette Flannigan, Angelito Nayan and Shqipe Hebibi, who was from Kosovo and had neither representation nor support from the outside.[25] Behgjet Pacolli traveled to Afghanistan for one month of intensive personal work and negotiations on their behalf and has been credited with securing their release.[26][27] It was two years later that the whole story repeated itself when the Italian citizen, Gabrielle Torsello was kidnapped in Afghanistan. Behgjet Pacolli was contacted by the Italian services in order to negotiate his liberation and was successful in doing so.[28][29]

Just in Kosovo, "Behgjet Pacolli Foundation" has donated over 20 million euros for various projects. Its national and international activities include:

Pacolli is also internationally known for his work to release UN hostages being held in Afghanistan.[30]

Mabetex truck.[24]

• Main sponsor of the Aleksandër Moisiu Foundation[5]
• Founder of the Foundation and Orphanages “Bambimi Di Sakha”[31]
• 1993 – Founder and sponsor of the hospital for the shelter and care of abandoned children born with physical disabilities in Sakha[32]
• 1999 – In cooperation with the Foundation “Insieme per la pace” and Ms. Fanfani, intervenes massively in offering aid in Kukës, Ivangrad, for the refugees expelled from Kosovo
• 1999 – Foundation for Rebuilding Kosovo (FORK), Prishtina[33]
• Support to Kosovo hospitals with pharmaceuticals[34][35][36]
• 2000-2004 – Support for building the infrastructure of Kosovo Protection Corps (TMK) in Prishtina and contribution towards its professional equipment
• 2004 – Founder of the foundation South East European Development (SEED), Washington, D.C., (foundation for lobbying and promoting the independence of Kosovo)
• 2006 – Founder and head of the New Kosovo Alliance (Aleanca Kosova e Re - AKR) political party (AKR is ranked as the third political party in the country, during its first elections in 2007)
• 2006 – Mediation and release of the journalist taken hostage in Afghanistan, Gabriele Torsello[37]
• 2006 – Foundation Behgjet Pacolli, Prishtinë, contributes in scholarships, social assistance for people in need, building houses for the poor and other social and cultural contributions
• 2006 – Large donations for renovation of the Building of the Parliament of Kosovo[38]
• 2007 – Designed, sponsored and funded the building of the American University in Kosovo’ campus.
• 2008-2011 – Permanent lobbying for the recognition of the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign country[39]
• 2008 – Financed the reconstruction and restoration of the Mosque of Llap (Xhamia e Llapit) in Prishtina, a building which is enlisted as part of the cultural heritage of Kosovo
• 2009 – Financed the expansion and construction of the College of Philosophy within the University of Prishtina[40]
• 2012 – Release of the pilot James Berisha, who was taken hostage in Eritrea. Intensive engagement for the release of Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak, arrested by the Eritrean authorities in 2001
• Sponsor of sports and culture in Kosovo
• Full support in the construction of houses for the poor (ongoing)
• Assistance for dozens of patients in receiving the necessary treatment out of the country (ongoing)[41]
• Social aid for people with disabilities and people in need (monthly stipend) (ongoing)
• Member of the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS),] Washington, permanent adviser to the committee led by Henry Kissinger

On 26 November 2019, an earthquake struck Albania. As outgoing Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli and his family personally donated 1 million euros to the relief effort.[42]

• Certificate of appreciation from the AUK (American University in Kosovo)
• Highest honorary award of the Russian Federation
• “The Acknowledgement of the City of Tirana” honor, given by the mayor of Tirana, Lulëzim Basha, in 2015[43]
• Peace Ambassador from the Universal Peace Federation
• Honors by the Kosovo Protection Corps (TMK)
• Peru: Peruvian President awards Peru the highest honor
• Nelson Mandela Foundation Award
• Liberia: Honorary Diplomat of the State of Liberia
• Peace Prize Gusi Peace Prize, Philippines
• Ambassador of Peace to the Universal Peace Federation
• Cavalier del Millennio per la Pace ("Knight of Peace of the Millennium") of the Centro Nazionale per la pace, Italy
• Honorary citizen of the cities of Lezha and Korça
• Key (2011) and certificate of recognition (2015) from the city of Tirana
• Doctor honoris causa of the European University of Tirana
• Special Leadership Award from the POLIS University for his life's work in politics, peace-building and humanitarian work
• Rochester Institute of Technology Honorary Degree
• Acknowledgment from US President Bill Clinton
• Honorary Citizen of the City of Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Chancellor's Gold Medal of the Community College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Keys to the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana
• Honorary Citizen of Astana, Kazakhstan
• Order of the Kazakh President Kurmet (2016) for services to the economy, science, culture, education and social affairs
• Kazakh President “2015 Constitution of Kazakhstan” Medal (2015)
• Doctor honoris causa of European University of Tirana
•  Albania: On 21 March 2011 received a copy of the key of the city of Tirana on the occasion of his state visit to Albania.[44]
•  Albania: In 2015 President Nishani decorates Behgjet Pacolli with the Honor of Nation Order[45]
• Title Doctor Honoris Causa in Economics "Ismail Qemali" University, Albania, 2018
• In December 2019, Minister Behgjet Pacolli was received in a private audience by Pope Francis.[46] Pacolli spoke of "the traditional good relations and contribution of the Holy See to Kosovo during its tumultuous history and in the face of current socio-economic challenges.“
• On December 27, 2019 Behgjet Pacolli received the high award "Mother Teresa" in Tirana for his services, personally from the Albanian President Ilir Meta. One of many awards for his commitment in all these years.

• Founder of the daily newspaper “Lajm” (Eng.: News), founded in 2004.
• Author of the autobiography “From Challenge to Challenge: Life Behgjet Pacolli”, published in 2010[47]
• Author of the documentary book “To lobby for Kosovo”. The book is a summary of documents, articles, experiences, and comments on lobbying for the international recognition of Kosovo's independence. The book was published in 2014.[48]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Behgjet Pacolli.

• Personal website
• Behdjet Pacolli on the New Kosovo Alliance website
• Behgjet Pacolli at the Assembly of Kosovo