  dimitrij rupel (born 7 april 1946) is a slovenian politician. == biography == rupel was born in ljubljana, in what was then the socialist republic of slovenia, into a bourgeois family of former anti-fascist political emigrants from the julian march (his grandfather was the last slovene mayor of duino in austria-hungary). after receiving a bachelor's degree in comparative literature and sociology from the university of ljubljana, he continued his studies at the university of essex, and brandeis university where he obtained a phd in sociology in 1976. during this time, he has published literary works, journalistic and critical articles, and has worked as a translator and editor. from 1977 to 1978, he taught at queen's university in canada, then in 1985 at the new school for social research of new york and at cleveland state university in 1989. together with other slovenian intellectuals in the 1980s, initiated and edited the alternative and dissident journal nova revija, which later became the platform for democratic reform in the socialist republic of slovenia. in 1987, he was among the authors of the contributions to the slovenian national program, an intellectual manifesto that demanded a democratic, pluralistic and sovereign slovenian state. the publication of the manifesto by the journal nova revija, edited by rupel, caused a huge scandal in yugoslavia, and rupel was forced to step down as editor. in 1989, he was one of the founders of the slovenian democratic union (slovenska demokratiÄna zveza, sdz), one of the first parties that opposed communist rule. after the victory of the anti-communist demos coalition in the first free elections in slovenia in 1990, rupel was appointed as state secretary for international cooperation in the cabinet of lojze peterle, thus becoming de facto the first foreign minister of the republic of slovenia, which was then seeking independence from yugoslavia. during his term in office, slovenia declared its independence and gained international recognition. rupel also remained in office d
1946_births Alumni_of_the_University_of_Essex Brandeis_University_alumni Cleveland_State_University_faculty Foreign_ministers_of_Slovenia Liberal_Democracy_of_Slovenia_politicians Living_people Mayors_of_Ljubljana People_from_Ljubljana Slovenian_Democratic_Party_politicians Slovenian_Democratic_Union_politicians Slovenian_diplomats The_New_School_faculty University_of_Ljubljana_alumni