Dragiša Milović

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Dragiša Milović (Serbian Cyrillic: Драгиша Миловић; born 1957) is a Kosovo Serb politician. He was the president (i.e., mayor) of Zvečan, a predominantly Serb community in the north of Kosovo[a] on the border with Central Serbia, from 2002 to 2013 as a member of the Democratic Party of Serbia (Demokratska stranka Srbije, DSS). He was re-elected to the same position in 2021 as a candidate of the Serb List (Srpska lista, SL).

Private career

Milović is a medical doctor and an orthopedic specialist. He is deputy director of KBC Kosovska Mitrovica.[1]

Politician

Milović was a founding member of the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija in January 1999 and was the initial chair of its initiative committee. He indicated that the council had been formed due to the dissatisfaction of Kosovo Serbs with the Serbian government's policies in the province. He was quoted as saying, "We Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija cannot be represented by the so-called Provisional Executive Council [set up by the Belgrade authorities] at the forthcoming [...] negotiations with the Albanians. It seems that the reason for setting it up was to once again surrender Serb land [...] without too much commotion. We do not accept any proposals which restrict the sovereignty and violate the territorial integrity of Serbia."[2]

In the aftermath of the 1998–99 Kosovo War, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was set up as a temporary authority in the province. In 2000, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) organized local elections under the auspices of UNMIK; these were largely boycotted by the Serb community, whose leaders argued that the security situation had not sufficiently improved to allow Serbs to return to their homes. Acting as a spokesperson for Oliver Ivanović, Milović said that Serbs in northern Kosovo would "[would] not register or take part in the vote until Serbs start returning to Kosovo in bigger numbers."[3]

Milović served as vice-president of the Zvečan municipal assembly in this period; the position was at the time equivalent to deputy mayor.[4] He was removed from office in June 2000 (along with mayor Desimir Petković) on the grounds of his willingness to negotiate with UNMIK. By 2002, however, he had been returned to the position.[5] As an ally of Oliver Ivanović, he resigned from the Serbian National Council executive in June 2001 following Ivanović's removal.[6]

Mayor of Zvečan (2002–13)

The Kosovo Serb community generally participated in the 2002 local elections in northern Kosovo, except in Kosovska Mitrovica. Milović appeared in the lead position on the DSS's electoral list for Zvečan and was elected when the list won five out of seventeen seats.[7][8] No party won a clear victory, and the DSS was able to form a coalition government with Milović as mayor.[9] In a meeting with UNMIK leader Michael Steiner shortly after his election, Milović said that the United Nations mission had failed in its goals. "Even after three and a half years there has been no mass return of Serbs," he said, "while there is no safety and freedom of movement for the remaining Serb population in the province."[10]

In 2004, Milović said that his administration would not accommodate "destabilizing" actions, citing UNMIK's recent decision to turn over municipal police responsibilities to the Kosovo Police without local consultation or approval.[11] In August 2005, he said that parts of Zvečan were experiencing serious water shortages due to the decision of the Priština authorities to withhold necessary water supplies from Serb communities in the north.[12]

At a protest to mark the two-year anniversary of the 2004 unrest in Kosovo, Milović said that "a settlement to the status of Kosovo must be arrived at through compromise, international law and the borders must be respected, there must be no winners and losers."[13] Later in the year, he welcomed the approval of a new Serbian constitution that recognized Kosovo and Metohija as an integral party of the country with significant autonomy.[14]

The Serb community in northern Kosovo generally boycotted the 2007 local elections, which took place against the backdrop of the province's drive for independence. Milović did not accept the elections as legitimate and was not a candidate. Like most Kosovo Serb politicians, he opposed Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008 and still considers Kosovo to be a province of Serbia.

The Serbian government organized its own local elections in Kosovo in 2008. Although not recognized internationally, the vote provided de facto legitimacy to the governing authorities in Zvečan and in the neighbouring municipalities of Leposavić, Zubin Potok, and northern Kosovska Mitrovica. The DSS actually finished second against the far-right Serbian Radical Party (Srpska radikalna stranka, SRS) in Zvečan, but Milović was able to form a new coalition administration with smaller parties and continue in office as mayor.[15][16] The authorities in Priština later organized new local elections in 2009; as in 2007, these were generally boycotted by the Serb community and had no practical effect on the local government of Zvečan.

In June 2009, Milović took part in a protest against the introduction of new customs measures on the border between Kosovo and Central Serbia. He said that Serbs did not oppose paying taxes to Serbia's government but did not want their money to support Kosovo's breakaway institutions. He was quoted as saying, "We want to confirm that the blockade is not aimed at the police or KFOR, only against the customs and that should be clear to everyone."[17]

Milović condemned an attack on an Albanian-owned bakery in Zvečan in 2010, saying, "the Albanians, citizens of our municipality, ten years since the arrival of the UN mission, have had no problems. We insist and urge the police to find those perpetrators."[18]

North Kosovo Crisis

In 2011, Kosovo Police crossed into the predominantly Serb municipalities of northern Kosovo, without consulting either Serbia or Kosovo Force (KFOR)/EULEX, in an attempt to assert control over several administrative border crossings. This action precipitated what became known as the North Kosovo crisis, in which members of northern Kosovo's Serb community restricted highway traffic with blockades and roadblocks. Milović was a leader of the community's actions, working alongside fellow mayors Slaviša Ristić of Zubin Potok, Branko Ninić of Leposavić, and Krstimir Pantić of northern Kosovska Mitrovica.

In August 2011, the governments in Belgrade and Priština announced a deal that would have seen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continue to guard two of the border posts. Local Serbs objected to a key aspect of the deal, however, and the blockades continued. Addressing a crowd of protesters, Milović said, "We will stay at the barricades because as mayors of northern Kosovo we are obliged to respect the opinion of the local people. We don't want to oppose the Serbian state but we want to respect your decisions."[19] He subsequently joined with Ristić and Pantić to request the removal of Borko Stefanović from the Belgrade–Pristina negotiations in Brussels, arguing that Stefanović did not enjoy the support of the Kosovo Serb community.[20] A December 2011 report in the Serbian paper Blic described Milović as the second-most important figure in coordinating the Serb community's actions after his fellow DSS mayor Ristić; both mayors were described as enjoying support from their electorate that transcended normal party divisions.[21]

The municipalities of Zubin Potok and Zvečan organized new municipal elections in 2012 on the grounds that the four-year mandates from 2008 were due to expire.[22] The broader diplomatic situation had changed by this time, and the elections were not officially recognized by either Belgrade or Priština.[23] The DSS won in both municipalities, and Ristić and Milović continued as to serve as mayors.[24] Ultimately, the Serbian government did not overturn the results.[25]

2013 Brussels Agreement

Milović called for the views of Kosovo Serbs to be taken into account during negotiations for the 2013 Brussels Agreement and said that an assembly of northern Kosovo could otherwise be established.[26] The final agreement normalized some aspects of the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo without addressing the latter's status; the Serbian government made some efforts to win local support for the deal, though ultimately both Ristić and Milović opposed it.[27]

The Serbian government dissolved the assemblies of Zvečan and other the three Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo in September 2013, thereby ending Milović's tenure as mayor.[28] Milović did not participate in the 2013 local elections (which were supported by both Belgrade and Priština, and which saw the direct election of mayors) due to calls from some members of the community for a boycott.[29] He was quoted as saying, "We cannot participate in elections that were called by the provisional government in Priština which is recognized by neither Kosovo Serbs nor Serbia."[30]

2017 candidacy and return to the mayor's office in 2021

Notwithstanding Milović's opposition, Kosovo Serbs generally participated in the 2013 local elections. Milović later ended his boycott strategy and was a mayoral candidate in the 2017 local elections, running on an independent list called For Our Zvečan as an ally of Oliver Ivanović.[31] He finished a distant second against incumbent Vučina Janković of the Serb List. Milović's car was torched during the campaign.[32] Following Ivanović's assassination by unknown parties in early 2018, Milović gave an interview in which he lamented the power of organized crime in northern Kosovo.[33]

Milović subsequently joined the Serb List and was re-elected as mayor of Zvečan under its banner in the 2021 local elections. He operates in a parallel (or, most precisely, overlapping) authority with that of Ivan Todosijević, who is recognized by the Serbian government as the leader of a provisional authority in Zvečan.[34]

Politics at the republic level in Serbia

Milović appeared in the 107th position on the Democratic Party of Serbia's electoral list in the 2003 Serbian parliamentary election. The list won fifty-three seats, and he was not given a mandate afterwards.[35] (From 2000 to 2011, Serbian parliamentary mandates were awarded to sponsoring parties or coalitions rather than to individual candidates, and it was common practice for the mandates to be awarded out of numerical order. Milović could have been awarded a seat in the assembly notwithstanding his position on the list, although in fact he was not.)[36] He later appeared in the 201st position on a combined DSS–New Serbia list in the 2008 parliamentary election and did not receive a seat after the list won thirty mandates.[37]

Serbia's electoral system was reformed in 2011, such that mandates were awarded to candidates on successful lists in numerical order. Milović appeared in the sixty-second position on the DSS list in the 2012 Serbian parliamentary election and was not elected when the list won twenty-one seats.[38] He left the DSS after Vojislav Koštunica retired as leader.

Electoral record

Local

2021 Municipality of Zvečan local election
Mayor of Zvečan[39]
Candidate Party Votes %
Dragiša Milović Serb List 5,394 98.43
Slađana Pantović Independent 86 1.57
Total valid votes 5,480 100
2017 Municipality of Zvečan local election
Mayor of Zvečan[40]
Candidate Party Votes %
Vučina Janković Serb List 2,863 70.59
Dragiša Milović Civic Initiative "For Our Zvečan" 1,193 29.41
Total valid votes 4,056 100

Notes

  1. ^ The political status of Kosovo is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo is formally recognised as an independent state by 100 UN member states (with another 13 states recognising it at some point but then withdrawing their recognition) and 93 states not recognizing it, while Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory.

References

  1. ^ Sandra Cvetković, "Stanovi i radna mesta u predizbornim temama ‘Srpske liste’", Radio Slobodna Evropa, 14 October 2021, accessed 25 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Kosovo Serbs set up national council, demand territorial reorganization," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European - Political, 17 January 1999 (Source: Text of report by the Belgrade-based independent Radio B92 on 16th January).
  3. ^ Robert H. Reid, "Serbs adamant in rejecting UN elections until Serbs allowed to return," Associated Press Newswires, 14 July 2000.
  4. ^ "Mesta za sve u Zvečanu", Glas javnosti, 23 December 1999, accessed 25 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Rudari postali trgovci", Glas javnosti, 10 August 2002, accessed 25 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Koncepcijske razlike", Glas javnosti, 8 June 2001, accessed 25 January 2022.
  7. ^ ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVENDE KOMUNALE 2002 – Fletëvotimet dhe listat e kandidatëve (Zvečan), accessed 24 January 2022.
  8. ^ ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVENDE KOMUNALE 2002 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), accessed 24 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Nema odluke o produženju mandata", Politika, 9 June 2008, accessed. 25 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Kosovo Serbs tell UN Security Council delegation UNMIK mission 'unsuccessful'," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 17 December 2002 (Source: Text of report in English by Yugoslav state news agency Tanjug).
  11. ^ "Serbs in northern town threaten to halt UN transfer of powers to Kosovo police," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 1 December 2004 (Source: Text of report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 1 December).
  12. ^ "Water supply situation in northern Kosovo town 'dramatic' - local Serb official," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 3 August 2005 (Source: Excerpt from report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 3 August).
  13. ^ "Kosovo Serbs stage peaceful protests to mark anniversary of Albanian violence," HINA, 17 March 2006.
  14. ^ "Kosovo Serb politicians hail new Serbian constitution, passers-by rejoice," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 31 October 2006 (Source: Text of report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 30 October).
  15. ^ Информације о одржаним седницама 2008. године – 15. мај 2008. године, Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 26 April 2017. The Government of Kosovo avoided a confrontation over the local government of Zvečan by formally extending Milović's mandate, a decision that he rejected as irrelevant. See "North Kosovo Serb mayors reject extension of mandate by government," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 7 July 2008 (Text of report by Kosovo-Albanian privately-owned newspaper Express, on 5 July).
  16. ^ "Kosovo Serb mayor allows four Albanian families to resume homes reconstruction," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 9 September 2009 (Source: Text of report by public Radio-Television Kosovo TV on 9 September).
  17. ^ Kosovo Serbs block road in protest over introduction of customs measures," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 25 June 2009 (Source: Text of report in English by Serbian pro-western Belgrade-based Radio B92 website, on 25 June).
  18. ^ "Kosovo Serb mayor condemns arson attack against local Albanian-owned bakery," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 1 November 2010 (Source: Excerpt from report by Kosovska Mitrovica-based Serbian-language Kontakt Plus radio).
  19. ^ "Kosovo, Serbia reach border deal, local Serbs object," Reuters News, 5 August 2011.
  20. ^ "Kosovo Serb mayors call for ouster of Serbian negotiator in Brussels talks," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 14 September 2011 (Source: Text of report by Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti website on 6 September).
  21. ^ "Serbian paper views role of Kosovo Serb mayors in organizing roadblocks," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 4 December 2011 (Source: Text of report by Serbian privately-owned independent daily Blic, on 2 December).
  22. ^ It was unnecessary to organize elections in northern Kosovska Mitrovica or Leposavić, as new elections had already been held in those communities since 2008. See L. Valtner, "Neće biti izbora u Mitrovici i Leposaviću", Danas, 4 March 2012, accessed 23 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Zubin Potok i Zvečan: Izborni procesi u punom jeku", Radio Television of Vojvodina, 24 April 2012, accessed 23 January 2022.
  24. ^ For Milović continuing as mayor, see "Dragiša Milović ponovo predsednik opštine Zvečan", Radio Television of Vojvodina, 11 June 2012, accessed 25 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Konstitutivne sednice opština Zvečan i Zubin Potok", Radio KiM, 30 May 2012, accessed 23 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Serbian MPs consider setting up Serb assembly of North Kosovo," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 20 March 2013 (Source: Text of report by Serbian public broadcaster RTS Radio Belgrade, on 19 March).
  27. ^ "Kosovo Serbs reject Brussels accord despite Serbian deputy premier's visit," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 14 May 2013 (Source: Text of report by Bosnia-based Al-Jazeera Balkans TV on 13 May).
  28. ^ B. Radomirivić, "Vlada raspustila skupštine opština na severu Kosova", Politika, 10 September 2013, accessed 23 January 2022.
  29. ^ "Kosovo Serbs seen in 'total confusion' about upcoming polls," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 7 September 2013 (Source: Text of report by Serbian newspaper Politika website on 5 September).
  30. ^ "Serbian officials said to visit Kosovo, urge Serbs to vote," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 11 October 2013 (Source: Text of report by Serbian newspaper Vecernje novosti website on 10 October).
  31. ^ "Serbian president hails Kosovo election result," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 26 October 2017 (Source: Text of report by Serbian newspaper Politika website on 23 October).
  32. ^ "Izgoreo automobil bivšeg predsednika opštine Zvečan", B92, 26 July 2017, accessed 25 January 2022.
  33. ^ Daniel McLaughlin, "Fear continues to grow as murder and mafia shake Serbs in divided Kosovo," The Irish Times, 10 February 2018.
  34. ^ ИВАН ТОДОСИЈЕВИЋ, Opština Zvečan [Serbian government website], accessed 31 January 2022.
  35. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 28. децембра 2003. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (3. ДЕМОКРАТСКА СТРАНКА СРБИЈЕ - ВОЈИСЛАВ КОШТУНИЦА) Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 2 July 2021.
  36. ^ Serbia's Law on the Election of Representatives (2000) stipulated that parliamentary mandates would be awarded to electoral lists (Article 80) that crossed the electoral threshold (Article 81), that mandates would be given to candidates appearing on the relevant lists (Article 83), and that the submitters of the lists were responsible for selecting their parliamentary delegations within ten days of the final results being published (Article 84). See Law on the Election of Representatives, Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 35/2000, made available via LegislationOnline, accessed 28 February 2017.
  37. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине одржани 11. маја 2008. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (3 Демократска Странка Србије - Нова Србија - Војислав Коштуница), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 2 July 2021.
  38. ^ Избори за народне посланике Народне скупштине, 6. мај 2012. године – ИЗБОРНЕ ЛИСТЕ (6 ДЕМОКРАТСКА СТРАНКА СРБИЈЕ - ВОЈИСЛАВ КОШТУНИЦА), Republika Srbija - Republička izborna komisija, accessed 28 September 2021.
  39. ^ ZGJEDHJET PËR KRYETARË TË KOMUNAVE 2021 – Rezultatet e Statistikat (Raundi i parë), Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve, accessed 12 January 2022.
  40. ^ ZGJEDHJET PËR KRYETARË TË KOMUNAVE 2017 (Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Raundi i parë)), Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve, accessed 17 January 2022.
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