Pristina, March 4, 2023
“A man can be replaced for almost everything he does, but a man can never be replaced for what he is. Nazmi, with the memories of the meetings with him, but above all with his works and contributions as a high-level leading professional, in this sense, is irreplaceable for us, in our hearts”. This is what the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said before his family, friends and colleagues at the commemorative meeting for Mr. Nazmi Mikullovci, which began with a minute of silence in honor of his life and work.
Commemorating the life and work of Mr. Mikullovci in the service of the country, especially in the field of economy, Prime Minister Kurti said it will take us many, many years to bring to the economy of Kosovo a public figure who is a director like him, who leads like him.
Further, the prime minister said that he knows Kosovo as an industrial economy from him as from no one else, including books about the economy in Kosovo.
Therefore, he added, words are not enough to describe the honor and respect we have and that I have for him, in his personal, professional and governmental aspects.
Mentor Mikullovci, the son of the deceased, also spoke at this commemorative meeting, as well as the Chairman of the Board “Trepça” Sh.A., Mr. Bahri Hyseni, Vice-Chairman of the PAK Board, Mrs. Suzana Dautaj-Surdulli and Chairman of the Board “Ibër Lepenci”, Mr. Bajram Mustafa, while unable to be present due to health reasons, Academician Mynir Dushi addressed the commemorative meeting with a letter.
The full speech of Prime Minister Kurti at the commemorative meeting in honor of the work of Mr. Nazmi Mikullovci:
Honorable Ms. Myzejene, honorable family members of Nazmi Mikullovci,
Honorable collaborators, colleagues, students, friends of Mr. Mikullovci,
Honorable attendees, saddened by the loss we suffered.
Mr. Mikullovci, or uncle Nazmi as we activists called him, left us forever yesterday and passed away.
A man can be replaced for almost everything he does, but a man can never be replaced for what he is. Nazmi, with the memories of the meetings with him, but above all with his works and contributions as a high-level leading professional, in this sense, is irreplaceable for us, in our hearts.
Years ago, there may have been people who asked the question: how is it possible that this gentleman is going to Levizja Vetevendosje, with this fantastic experience as a director of very powerful companies?
Why did Nazmi come to Levizja Vetevendosje, where we were young and inexperienced?. It probably came because of our non-corruption, and the fact that we believe in the revival of industries. But I have a hypothesis that I cannot prove. His biography also played a role in his arrival in our organization. Let’s not forget, Nazmi Mikullovci was born in 1943 in Vushtrri. But even at that time, Vushtrri loved Albania very much. That’s why he came to us, and we went to him.
Well, dear guests, Nazmi Mikullovci, one of the best managers Kosovo has ever had, had no problem hanging out with us, who were much younger and less experienced. Maybe we didn’t have much to teach Nazmi, but we have learned a lot from him, in Levizje and outside it. It is no coincidence that the year when Nazmi Mikullovci joined VETEVENDOSJE! coincides with the year when we in the Movement draw up the economic development program for the first time, i.e. in 2010.
Nazmi Mikullovci turned 80 years old this year, yet he lived busy until the end. Even when he could not move due to illness, he was attending Zoom meetings and appointments. Even on Monday, February 27, four days before his death, he led the meeting of the Board! A member of the Board told me that when we went to the hospital, it was not only to visit Uncle Nazmi, but also to consult with him, with the sharpness of his mind, which, quickly, reduced countless different ways and possibilities of decision-making to a few main ones in terms of justice and utility, in order to select the best one.
When we talked with Uncle Nazmi in Vetevendosje or in the Prime Minister premises, every time after my speech he was silent for five or six seconds, I knew that I was wrong. I knew what he was going to say would change my mind. At first I was surprised, then I got used to it, but I always benefited from it.
After Trepca and KOSTT, its capacities were recently deployed in order to revitalize Kosovo’s industry and assets. He held the position of the director of the PAK board, with a vote by the Parliament of Kosovo. Therefore, our country is losing a very high-level official.
Thanking you Director Mikullovci, the social enterprise “Brezovica” was put under the full administration of the PAK and was fiscalized and functionalized, then multi-million cuts in expenses were made in the PAK, the Final Strategy of the PAK was drawn up and the identification of nearly 2,400 assets of the PAK was made in a common register of which about 70% will be transferred to the Sovereign Fund.
Honorable attendees,
I don’t know anyone born to be a director like Nazmi. It will take us many, many years to bring to the economy of Kosovo a public figure who is a director like him, who leads like him. The death of Nazmi Mikullovci is the death of the Director.
I know Kosovo as an industrial economy from him as from no one else, including books on the economy in Kosovo.
Therefore words are not enough to describe the honor and respect we have and that I have for him, in his personal, professional and governmental aspects.
With the extinction of Nazmi, the memories and traces of him, the man who started working in Trepça in 1965 and continued until 1990, when he left the violent masses, and when he returned to it immediately after the liberation, do not disappear. Trepça will fondly remember Nazmi, its director, pre-war over 14 years and post-war over 7 more years; the director of the golden years of Trepca’s production before the suppression of Kosovo’s autonomy, and the director of the first years of Trepca’s recovery after the liberation of Kosovo.
Today we say goodbye to Uncle Nazmi, we will never forget his beloved face and his wise words.
And, we remain hopeful that the new managers of Kosovo will find common inspiration in Nazmi Mikullovci, who has been a very successful manager throughout his life, not with the aim of enriching himself, but that of development, of society and the nation.
Today we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and all the lovers of Uncle Nazmi. He has now met together with his brother, Adem Mikullovci, our deceased deputy, the participant in Kaçanik’s Constitutional Declaration in 1990, the great actor who has kept the smile of Albanians even in times of great pain.
This family has given a lot to our country, and knowing Jeton and Faton, Besim and Mentor, and Naim, believe me, dear guests, that I have established the conviction that there is no ordinary Mikullovci.
Rest in peace! We miss him a lot, we are very lucky to have had him.
Thank you.
Last modified: March 8, 2023