Milestones

DIED

First he was a Pivotal Balkan politician, then an eccentric New Age guru. The earnest Janez Drnovsek led Slovenia to independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and, as its popular Prime Minister and President, built coalitions, revamped the economy and brought the country into NATO and the E.U.--the only former Yugoslav republic to join either. After learning in 2001 that he had a recurrence of cancer, the President claimed a "higher consciousness." He ditched his palace for a mountain cabin, renounced "all things evil," became a vegan and resolutely pushed for peace, often unsuccessfully, on diplomatic missions around the world. Drnovsek...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!