Vojislav Koštunica

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Vojislav Koštunica
8th Prime Minister of Serbia
In office
3 March 2004 – 7 July 2008
President Dragan Maršićanin (Acting)
Vojislav Mihailović (Acting)
Predrag Marković (Acting)
Boris Tadić
Deputy Miroljub Labus
Ivana Dulić-Marković
Božidar Đelić
Preceded by Zoran Živković
Succeeded by Mirko Cvetković
4th President of Yugoslavia
In office
7 October 2000 – 7 March 2003
Prime Minister Momir Bulatović
Zoran Žižić
Dragiša Pešić
Preceded by Slobodan Milošević
Succeeded by Svetozar Marović (Serbia and Montenegro)
Personal details
Born (1944-03-24) 24 March 1944
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
(now Serbia)
Political party Democratic Party (1990–1992)
Democratic Party of Serbia (1992–present)
Spouse(s) Zorica Radović
Alma mater University of Belgrade
Religion Serbian Orthodoxy
Signature

Vojislav Koštunica (Serbian Cyrillic: Војислав Коштуница, pronounced [ʋǒjislaʋ koʃtǔnitsa] ( listen); born 24 March 1944) is a Serbian politician and the president of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). He was president of Yugoslavia from 2000–2003 and then prime minister of Serbia from 2004–2008.[1]

Early life and education

Koštunica was born on 24 March 1944 in his family home in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.[1] He was educated in Belgrade, where he finished elementary school, and graduated from the Second Belgrade High School in 1962. Koštunica enrolled in the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Law the same year, graduating in 1966.[1] He earned his Master's degree in 1970 and his Ph.D. in 1974 with his thesis "Institutionalized opposition in the political system of capitalism".[1]

Koštunica was an assistant at the faculty from 1970 until 1974, when he left due to a political purge at the university for criticising the communist government of Josip Broz Tito.[1] After the expulsion, he worked at the Institute of Social Sciences, and from 1981 at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, where he engaged in the protection of human rights, specifically in the defence of freedom of thought and expression.[1]

Political career

Koštunica was one of the founding members of the Democratic Party in 1989.[1] He left the Democratic Party in July 1992 over opposing views in leadership and formed the Democratic Party of Serbia.[1]

Supported by both nationalists and liberals, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia backed him in the 2000 presidential election against incumbent Slobodan Milošević. Koštunica received 50.26 percent of the vote in the first round of voting, just a few thousand votes over the threshold needed to win outright. Milošević disputed the results of the first round, claiming that Koštunica had only received 49 percent of the vote and a runoff was required. A spontaneous riot forced Milošević to accept the results and step down as president. Koštunica then assumed the presidency. He was the last president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Koštunica opposed the extradition of his predecessor, to the Hague Tribunal, and voiced opposition to the court several times.

Following the parliamentary elections in December 2003, in which the DSS emerged as the largest of the reformist parties, Koštunica became prime minister in March 2004 at the head of the new minority government, albeit with the support of the Socialist Party of Serbia. However, as a result of the bad showing of the presidential candidate Dragan Maršićanin in the 2004 presidential election, Koštunica announced that parliamentary elections should be expected by the end of the year just following the adoption of a new Constitution.

In 15 May 2007, after a brief crisis in his coalition, he was sworn in for his second term as prime minister.

Koštunica is a conservative politician with strong anti-communist views but also critical of the West, namely the United States and the European Union. In an interview with German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel, Koštunica stated he is "fairly close to de Gaulle", in his views.[2] An unnamed Western diplomat was quoted as saying "Koštunica is a 19th-century, anti-western, romantic nationalist".[3]

On Kosovo

President George W. Bush greets Vojislav Koštunica, then President of Yugoslavia, in the White House.
With Secretary Rice in Washington DC on 12 July 2006.
Vojislav Koštunica on election billboard - 2012 Serbian elections
On 21 February 2008, following Kosovo's declaration of independence, Koštunica made an emotional speech in Belgrade, which included the following:
Dear citizens of Serbia, Serbia! What is Kosovo? Where is Kosovo? Whose is Kosovo? Is there anyone among us who is not from Kosovo? Is there anyone among us who thinks that Kosovo does not belong to us? Kosovo – that’s Serbia’s first name. Kosovo belongs to Serbia. Kosovo belongs to the Serbian people. That’s how it has been for ever. That’s how it’s going to be for ever. There is no force, no threat, and no punishment big and hideous enough for any Serb, at any time, to say anything different but, Kosovo is Serbia! Never will anyone hear from us that the Patriarchate of Peć does not belong to us, that Visoki Dečani and Gračanica are not ours! That the place where we were born is not ours; we and our state and our church and everything that makes us what we are today! If we as Serbs renounce Serbianhood, our origin, our Kosovo, our ancestors and our history – then, who are we Serbs? What is our name then?[4]

Buses took thousands of supporters to the rally; some protestors then attacked embassies and looted shops.[5]

On 25 February 2008, Koštunica demanded that the United States rescind its recognition of Kosovo, warning that "there will be no stability until the fake state" is annulled.[6]

On 8 March 2008, Koštunica, as Prime Minister of Serbia, called for new elections on 11 May after the collapse of his party's coalition with the Democratic Party over European Union issues and Kosovo's declaration of independence.[7]

On the European Union

On 4 April 2008, Koštunica stated that EU membership was no longer on the agenda for Serbia. He stated that before EU integration could continue, Serbia and the EU must discuss the matter of Serbia’s territorial integrity.[8]

He stated that Serbia must not by any means sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which he referred to the agreement as «Solana's agreement».[9]

On 21 April 2008 Koštunica said that the SAA was in the interests of Olli Rehn and Javier Solana and not in Serbia's national interests. He also said that "the NATO pact cannot claim that Serbia recognised Kosovo’s independence with that signature." and that "the only thing the NATO pact will be able to claim is that individual parties signed Solana’s agreement.".[10]

On 27 April 2008 he said that anyone who signed the SAA on behalf of Serbia would become an accomplice to tearing Serbia apart. He also implied there is a cover-up of something in the agreement by saying: "I am convinced every Serbian sees that things are being covered up, and that there is something seriously amiss with the Solana agreement." and he asked "who in Serbia dares to ignore these facts and conceal the real goal of Solana's agreement.".[11]

On 28 April 2008 he said that "the signature will not be valid for Serbia and whoever signs the SAA will have to assume responsibility for such an act".[12]

On 1 May 2008 Koštunica said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was right when he said that the SAA should have been signed before Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and its recognition by 18 EU member states at the time.[13] One day later on 2 May 2008 he vowed to annul the agreement after the election, calling it "a trick", "Solana's agreement" and "the Tadić-Đelić SAA signature".[14] He said he refers to the act of signing of the SAA as anti-Constitutional and anti-state that leads to the breakup of Serbia.[15] A spokesperson of Koštunica's Democratic Party of Serbia stated that Tadić was putting a seal of Judas of his party coalition to the Solana Agreement by signing it.[16] On 4 May he called the document "a forgery and a trick".[17]

First cabinet (2004–2007)

Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ivana Dulić-Marković (2004–06)
Goran Živkov (2006-06)
Capital Investment Velimir Ilić
Culture Dragan Kojadinović
Defense Zoran Stanković (2006)
Deputy Miroljub Labus (2004–06)
Ivana Dulić-Marković (2006-06)
Diaspora Vojislav Vukčević
Economy Dragan Maršićanin (2004-04)
Predrag Bubalo
Education and Sport Ljiljana Čolić (2004-04)
Slobodan Vuksanović
Energy and Mining Radomir Naumov
Finance Mlađan Dinkić (2004–06)
Foreign Affairs Vuk Drašković (2006)
Health Tomica Milosavljević (2004–06)
Interior Affairs Dragan Jočić
International Economic Relations Predrag Bubalo (2004-04)
Milan Parivodić
Justice Zoran Stojković
Labour, Employment and Social Affairs Slobodan Lalović
Public Administration and Local Self-Government Zoran Lončar
Religion Milan Radulović
Science and Environmental Protection Aleksandar Popović
Trade, Tourism and Services Bojan Dimitrijević
Secretary-General Dejan Mihajlov

Second cabinet (2007–2008)

Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Slobodan Milosavljević
Capital Investment Velimir Ilić
Culture Vojislav Brajović
Defence Dragan Šutanovac
Environmental Protection Saša Dragin
Deputy for European Integrations Božidar Đelić
Diaspora Milica Čubrilo
Economy and Regional Development Mlađan Dinkić
Education Zoran Lončar
Energy and Mining Aleksandar Popović
Finance Mirko Cvetković
Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremić
Health Tomica Milosavljević
Interior Affairs Dragan Jočić
Justice Dušan Petrović
Kosovo and Metohija Slobodan Samardžić
Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajić
National Investment Plan Dragan Đilas
Public Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Marković
Religion Radomir Naumov
Science Ana Pešikan
Telecommunications and Information Society Aleksandra Smiljanić
Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo
Youth and Sports Snežana Samardžić-Marković
Secretary-General Dejan Mihajlov

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Vojislav Koštunica - kandidat DSS-a". B92. Retrieved 15 August 2012. 
  2. ↑ "English Summaries". Der Spiegel. 13 November 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  3. ↑ "No Milosevic, He Says, but Serbia’s ‘Undertaker’ Worries the West". The New York Times. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2013. 
  4. ↑ "The Promise is Given, Kosovo is Serbia as Long as We Live". Tanjug, via Serbian Orthodox Church. 21 February 2008. 
  5. ↑ Judah. The Serbs. Yale University Press. p. 359. ISBN 978-0-300-15826-7. 
  6. ↑ Kirka, Danica (26 February 2008). "Putin's Likely Successor, Pledging Support for Serbia, Signs Pipeline Deal". The Washington Post. Associated Press. p. A11. 
  7. ↑ "Serbia's ruling coalition collapses". BBC. 8 March 2008. 
  8. ↑ "Koštunica: EU membership not on agenda". B92. 4 April 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ "SAA not in Serbia's state interests". B92. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  11. ↑ "Koštunica on SAA: Who dares to become accomplice". B92. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  12. ↑ "Koštunica slams EU deal signing as anti-state". B92. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  13. ↑ "Koštunica agrees with Lavrov: SAA long overdue". B92. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  14. ↑ "EU deal signature will be annulled". B92. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  15. ↑ "Koštunica: SAA breaking Serbia up". B92. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  16. ↑ "DSS: EU deal signature, seal of Judas". B92. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 
  17. ↑ "Koštunica says signed EU deal is forgery". B92. 4 May 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010. 

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Slobodan Milošević		 President of Yugoslavia
2000–2003 		Succeeded by
Svetozar Marović
as President of Serbia and Montenegro
Preceded by
Zoran Živković		 Prime Minister of Serbia
2004–2008 		Succeeded by
Mirko Cvetković
Presidents of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992–2003)
President of Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2006)
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