{{short description|President of Albania from 2007 to 2012}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bamir Topi | honorific_prefix = | image = Bamir Topi.jpg | office = 5th President of Albania | prime_minister = Sali Berisha | term_start = 24 July 2007 | term_end = 24 July 2012 | predecessor = Alfred Moisiu | successor = Bujar Nishani | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|4|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Tirana, PR Albania | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{marriage|Teuta Mema|1982}} | party = Democratic Party (1990–2007, 2023–Present) | alma_mater = Agricultural University of Tirana | signature = Bamir Topi (nënshkrim).svg | caption = Official portrait, 2007. | parents = Riza Topi (father), Haxhire Karapici (mother) | other_party = {{plainlist| * New Democratic Spirit (2012–2021) * Independent (2007–2012, 2021–2023) }} }} '''Bamir Myrteza Topi''' ({{IPA|sq|baˈmiɾ ˈtɔpi|lang|Bamir Topi.ogg}}; born 24 April 1957)<ref name=CV>[http://www.president.al/english/pub/presidenti.asp CV at Albanian presidency website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715153638/http://www.president.al/english/pub/presidenti.asp |date=15 July 2007 }}.</ref> is an Albanian diplomat and politician who served as President of Albania from 2007 to 2012.
Topi was the honorary president of the Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007. In September 2012, Topi became the leader of the New Democratic Spirit party.<ref>[http://noa.al/news/artikull.php?id=226745 Zyrtarisht Bamir Topi kryetar i Frymës së Re Demokratike] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202131/http://www.noa.al/news/artikull.php?id=226745 |date=14 July 2014 }}, NOA, 7 September 2012 (in Albanian)</ref>
== Early life, education and career == {{BLP sources section|date=June 2018}} Bamir Myrteza Topi was born in Tirana, Albania on the 24th of April 1957 to Riza Topi and Haxhire Karapici. Bamir comes from a Tirana family from his father's and mother's side.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.pressreader.com/albania/gazeta-shqiptare/20121026/281887295558190 |access-date=2023-11-09 |via=PressReader}}</ref> His family are of the Muslim faith in origin. On his father’s side he comes from the Topi family, which he hypothesises descend from the noble Thopia family.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bamir Topi hedh hipotezën: Kam prejardhjen nga fisi i Topiajve, pse kam ulli 3 mijë vjeçar në oborr |url=https://dosja.al/bamir-topi-hedh-hipotezen-kam-prejardhjen-nga-fisi-i-topiajve-pse-kam-ulli-3-mije-vjecar-ne-oborr |website=dosja.al|date=31 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Pasardhës i Topiajve", Bamir Topi shpjegon hipotezën se e ka prejardhjen nga fisi i njohur |url=https://www.tpz.al/pasardhes-i-topiajve-bamir-topi-shpjegon-hipotezen-se-e-ka-prejardhjen-nga-fisi-i-njohur |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=www.tpz.al}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-01 |title="Jam nip i topiajve": Bamir Topi çudit me prejardhjen e tij nga fisi i njohur |url=https://www.lajme.al/jam-nip-i-topiajve-bamir-topi-cudit-me-prejardhjen-e-tij-nga-fisi-i-njohur/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Lajme.al |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=E.Jashari |title="Pasardhës i Topiajve", Bamir Topi shpjegon se e ka prejardhjen nga fisi i njohur |url=https://joq-albania.com/artikull/577721.html |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=joq-albania.com |language=sq-AL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Jam pasues i Topiajve", ish-presidenti Topi: Hipotezë e besueshme |url=https://www.balkanweb.com/jam-pasues-i-topiajve-ish-presidenti-topi-hipoteze-e-besueshme/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=www.balkanweb.com |language=sq}}</ref>
On his mother’s side, he comes from the Karapici family, which makes him a relative of Adem Karapici and Artan Karapici. He has mentioned how his great grandfather owned the Karapici mosque<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topi: Nuk kam marrë as 10% të pronave të familjes time, është ndërtuar mbi xhaminë e gjyshit tim |url=https://www.oranews.tv/politike/topi-nuk-kam-marre-as-10-te-pronave-te-familjes-time-eshte-ndertuar-mbi-i1118732 |website=Oranews.tv}}</ref> which was located in Skanderbeg Square, Tirana before it was demolished in 1929.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xhamia e Karapicit , Tirane (1892) – Gezim Kopani |url=http://gezimkopani.com/2020/09/04/xhamia-e-karapicit-tirane-1892/amp/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=gezimkopani.com}}</ref> Bamir graduated from the Agricultural University of Tirana in veterinary studies and earned a PhD degree in the same field. In 1984, he was appointed a Scientific Researcher at the Institute of Veterinary Scientific Researches until 1995. During the 1987-90 period, he attended post-graduate studies in Italy in the field of Molecular Biology. After returning from Italy, Topi served as Director of the Food Safety and Veterinary Institute until the end of 1995.<ref name="CV" />
He was first elected as a member of the Albanian Parliament in 1996 and was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food where he served until 1997.<ref name="CV" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Tirana |date=2007-07-20 |title=Bamir Topi elected new Albania's president following break in opposition ranks - Tirana Times |url=https://www.tiranatimes.com/bamir-topi-elected-new-albanias-president-following-break-in-opposition-ranks_102557/ |access-date=2026-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> He was elected to three mandates in the Assembly of Albania as a candidate of Democratic Party of Albania. In two terms, Topi led the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party in the Assembly. He has been elected vice-chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, which is led by Sali Berisha.
=== Presidency === {{main|2007 Albanian presidential election}}
thumb|130px|Topi during an official ceremony, 30 September 2008.
On 8 March 2007, Topi said that he would be the candidate of the ruling Democratic Party in the 2007 presidential election. Both the Demochristian and Republican parties said that they would intended to support him.<ref>[http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/newsbriefs/2007/03/09/nb-10 "Bamir Topi said he will be ruling party's presidential candidate"], ''Southeast European Times'', 9 March 2007.</ref> Parliament took 4 tries, and the opposition finally gave up and elected Topi, a choice of Prime Minister Sali Berisha.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://politicalmavens.com/index.php/2007/07/25/us-and-iran-on-same-side/ |title=Political Mavens |access-date=31 October 2008 |archive-date=15 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715102523/http://politicalmavens.com/index.php/2007/07/25/us-and-iran-on-same-side/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On a vote held on 8 July, Topi won 75 votes in parliament; short of the 84 votes required. The opposition, led by the Socialist Party, boycotted the vote.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/09/europe/EU-POL-Albania-Presidential-Election.php "Albania edges toward elections after presidential vote fails"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), 9 July 2007.</ref> The second round of voting for electing the president was held on 10 July. The parliament again failed to elect a president, with Topi receiving 74 votes.<ref>[http://www.birn.eu.com/en/92/15/3556/ "Standoff in Parliamentary Ballot to Pick New Albanian President"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713200227/http://www.birn.eu.com/en/92/15/3556/ |date=13 July 2007 }}, birn.eu.com, 11 July 2007.</ref> On 14 July, another vote was held. Topi won only 50 votes, while Neritan Ceka of the Democratic Alliance Party won 32.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/14/europe/EU-POL-Albania-Presidential-Election.php "Albania opposition boycott prevents election of new president in 3rd round"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), 14 July 2007.</ref>
On 20 July, in the fourth round of voting, Topi was supported by some members of the opposition and won 85 votes, thus being elected as the President of the Republic of Albania for a five-year term. He was sworn in on 24 July.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/24/europe/EU-POL-Albania-New-President.php "Albania's new president Bamir Topi sworn in"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), 24 July 2007.</ref>
Topi officially resigned his position as vice-chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania and at the same time withdrew from his party.
== Support for Kosovo's independence == Topi is a vocal advocate of independence for Kosovo. He pointed out the need for a sovereign state of Kosovo before the European Council and other international instances.<ref>[https://news.un.org/en/story/2008/09/274822 Kosovo should become UN Member State – Albanian President], un.org</ref>
With a joint invitation of Kosovo's President, Fatmir Sejdiu, and the head of the UN mission, Joachim Ruecker, Topi stayed for a three-day visit in Kosovo in January 2009. He was proclaimed an honorary citizen of the capital Pristina. During his visit, he was also conferred an honorary doctorate by the University of Pristina.<ref>[https://www.b92.net/o/eng/comments?nav_id=47223 Albanian president visits Kosovo]</ref>
== Honours and awards ==
* 40px Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav ("For outstanding contribution to the development and improvement of relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Albania." – 7 April 2009) *Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Pristina (25 January 2008) *Honorary Citizen of Pristina (26 January 2008) *Honorary Citizen of Burrel<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shqiptarja.com/lajme/2706/presidenti-topi-b-het-qytetar-nderi-i-burrelit-65624.html|title=Presidenti Topi bëhet "Qytetar Nderi" i Burrelit|date=23 November 2011|website=shqiptarja.com|language=sq|access-date=19 January 2017|archive-date=1 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201234615/http://shqiptarja.com/lajme/2706/presidenti-topi-b-het-qytetar-nderi-i-burrelit-65624.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> *Honorary Citizen of Gjakova, Kosovo<ref>[http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/topi-qytetar-nderi-i-gjakoves-2-23423.html Topi, qytetar nderi i Gjakovës], Telegrafi.com, 2012-06-30 (in Albanian)</ref>
== See also == *Presidents of Albania
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070715153638/http://www.president.al/english/pub/presidenti.asp Official website] {{in lang|en}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Alfred Moisiu}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|President of Albania}}|years=2007–2012}} {{s-aft|after=Bujar Nishani}} {{s-end}}
{{Heads of state of Albania}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Topi, Bamir}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Albanian Sunni Muslims Category:People from Tirana Category:Presidents of Albania Category:Government ministers of Albania Category:Albanian veterinarians Category:Democratic Party of Albania politicians Category:New Democratic Spirit politicians Category:Politicians from Tirana Category:Agricultural University of Tirana alumni