Our Man in Moscow

Wrote some 15 books. Became Assistant university professor in 1965. First Dean of the School of Economics at Nis University (197078). Honorary member of Moscow's Lomonosov University.

Always reacted correctly and invested more effort into his political career at the expense of his teaching.

Praised the ideas and work of Josip Broz Tito as editor of ``The Small Lexicon of Selfmanagement.''

His rhetorical abilities did not make an impression on the electorate. ``After hearing me speak in the parliament, thanks to the live coverage of sessions, my people have been asking me whether I know what I'm talking about.''

Became Serbian Education Minister in 1989. From headmasters demanded the list of teachers who joined the teachers' strike. His last post in the Serbian government was Deputy PM.

Markovic does not react to public name calling and has not denied that he bought an Audi 100 thanks to the Karic & brothers Company, as a return favor for granting them the licence to open the Management school.

He was a member of the commission when Mirjana Markovic, wife of the Serbian President, defended her doctor's thesis.

Portrait of Zivorad Igic, Head of the Diplomatic Mission to Tirana

Year and place of birth: 1942, Babin Most near Pristina, Kosovo.

The way he sees himself: ``An experienced journalist and writer, an author of several hundred texts where he exposed the goals of Albanian nationalism and separatism and, an interlocutor of a number of foreign delegations'' (the Belgrade biweekly ``Duga,'' 1983)

How he exposed nationalism and separatism: By revealing that ``the Shqiptar (a derogaroty name for ethnic Albanians in Kosovo) secessionists actuated by nationalistic motives terrorize the Serbian population by playing loud music'' and that the alleged mass poisoning of Albanian youngsters in Kosovo in 1992 was caused when ``parents gave their children small doses of gas that is used for lighters.''

How he talked with the foreign delegations: The delegation of the U.S. Congress was questioned about the rights of the Puerto Ricans in New York, the English were asked ``what such a large army was doing in Ulster,'' and he learned from the Canadians that what is going on in Quebec is ``the same thing'' as in Kosovo.

His view of the situation in Kosovo: ``It is the continuation of the great conspiracy against Serbia and the Serbian people that was plotted back in 1912 by the great powers.''(the Belgrade weekly ``Intervju,'' 1988)

How he entered politics: Through journalism. During the mandate of Mahmut Bakali (leader of the Kosovo Communist Party of the then Yugoslavia), he was the deputy editorinchief of Radio Pristina, and subsequently the editorinchief of the Kosovo issue of ``Komunist'' (``The Communist,'' the organ of the Communist Party). He also translated and wrote commentaries about the texts from ``Rilindja'' and other publications in the Albanian language for the needs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

What he did during the antibureaucratic revolution: Igic was a member of the ``Serbian Resistance Movement'' but also pursued his career in the Socialist Alliance of the Working People. After the Alliance merged with the Communist Party of Serbia, he was appointed President of the Province Board of the Socialist Party of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija. He held the position until 1993.

He is famous for: When addressing the public Igic almost perfectly imitates Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's voice and oratory style.

What his supporters say: That Igic is a true patriot and capable journalist who had to take the consequences because of openly confronting Mahmut Bakali in the seventies', that he is familiar with the Albanian mentality and the internal relations among the Kosovo Albanians, that he is one of few officials who have not come to Kosovo from ``elsewhere,'' and finally that he is one of few diplomats of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia who are fluent in the language of the country they are being sent to.

What the Kosovo Albanians say: That Igic is the number one executioner of Milosevic's policy of aggression in Kosovo, that appointing him head of the diplomatic mission represents a clear provocation of Albania and the Albanians, and that they hope that Igic's accreditation will not be accepted in Tirana.

What the optimists say: That Igic, regardless of his reputation as a ``hawk'' because of his unquestioned loyalty to Milosevic, could play an important role in a possible deal between Belgrade and Tirana, of which there are rumors on both sides of the border.