Avni Spahiu is a diplomat, journalist, author, and translator, born in Mitrovica, Kosova. He studied at the University of Prishtina where he received an MA in Literature.
A long-time journalist of “Rilindja”, he was a permanent correspondent in New York for the daily “Rilindja” and then its editor-in-chief.
In the 90s, he dealt with human rights as one of the founders of the Council for Human Rights of Kosova. After the war, he was co-founder of the public broadcaster RTK and its first director.
He has translated over 30 books of literature, Western thought, and poetry. He is the author of several nonfiction books, including Noli – Life of an Albanian-American (in Albanian and English), Nobel Laureates in Literature, American Essays, Friendship Page, First Mission, etc.
From 2008-2012 he served as the first Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the USA and then to Turkey.
He was co-founder and vice-president of PEN Center of Kosova.