Coordinator

Date and place of birth: October 3, 1937, Zbevac village near Bujanovac.

Education: Elementary school in Bujanovac, economy school in Vranje, University school of economics in Skoplje.

Family: Wife Edit, editor of the House and Style magazine, two sons one is a student the other lives in France.

How did he start his career: As an investment manager in the Vranje local council. At 30 he was appointed manager of the ailing SImpo furniture factory in Vranje and soon managed to get it back on its feet.

Current post: Minister without portfolio in the Serbian government, head of the coordinating team that keeps track of the implementation of the country's economic recovery program, chairman of the SImpo holding company, creator and chairman of the consortium formed to revitalize Vranje spa.

And: Commercial director of the S.A.G. Andrin et Fils company in France, responsible for electricity exports to east and central Europe which caused the opposition to accuse him of treason.

What does he say: "When everyone asks for articles on things which are of interest to the community, but which have to be kept secret under the embargo, its possible to create an oversight through ill-intentioned presentation and someone who wants to help the country gets blamed."

Why isn't he tired of all that work: "I really don't think this is hard work. On the contrary, I think it's good to be fit and work at above average."

Why: "My project is turning southern Serbia into Switzerland."

How do you achieve that: "Vranje residents are good singers and dancers, merry folk, that feeling is present in everyone even in these hard times. They have a heart and soul and that special Vranje moon doesn't leave them alone. But they are very hard workers and a good organizer can make a good industrial worker of anyone from Vranje. It all depends how you play to them."

His economic motto: "The terrible experiences in eastern Europe just confirm that our original model is right: saving the big systems and subduing hasty privatization."

His friends: Earlier, Ivan Stambolic, former Serbian presidency president who he vacationed with often. Later Slobodan Milosevic and Mirjana Markovic. Tomic's wife published a touching review of Markovic's residence in Pozarevac.

His opponents: Zoran Djindjic who unpleasantly accuses him of corruption constantly; Stanisa Janjic, director of his Vranje competitor Jumko; Slobodan Jovanovic, director of Tanjug and chairman of the Belgrade SPS board who competes with him for Milosevic's favor.

Is that important: "The theory that it's important to be someone's political favorite is prejudice. They say: he got loans. There will always be loans, good businessmen will always go where they can get cheap loans. I see none of the profit that is ascribed to favoritism. The state can't really help anyone that much" (late in 1993, just before he joined the government).

Still: "Let's not forget that the government does provide some things such as import-export permits and decides on sharing out foreign currency and oil. When those measures take effect some will probably realize that they need to be disciplined" (February 1995 speaking about companies that refused to lower prices as ordered by the coordination team).

What was always clear to him: "As a child I realized that it's impossible to live where I was born. That wasn't a life it was grabbing from life."

And now: "I've lived in economic chains for too long and I mean to break out now. My time is yet to come."