Serbia's State Security Chief and Milosevic's Akashi

General Information: As usual, virtually nothing is known about the head of the Serbian State Security Service (SDB).

Origin: He was born in Backa Palanka. He's married and has two children.

Education: Belgrade University School of Political Sciences, International Department, graduated in 1974. His fellow students remembered him when he recently appeared on TV. They said there was nothing special about him, that he was an average student and wasn't a member of popular university party organizations. He was the only one whose phone number was untraceable during preparations for a graduation reunion. Beside his name on the student list was a short note: SDB. He didn't show up for the reunion.

Career: He entered the service right after graduation. First as an operative, later as the operations chief in the Belgrade SDB. Step by step (without stumbling or excelling) he went from the Second department of the Serbian service to deputy chief. During the first days of Milosevic's reign, he replaced Zoran Janackovic as head of the service (Janackovic was posted to the federal foreign ministry's information and archives service where Stanisic's wife works).

When did we hear of him: At the start of the war and sometime around the March 9, 1991 demonstrations. Both things happened at about the same time. In both things Stanisic is reported to have played major roles. Since then he became known as "the closest to the pharaoh" in an ever growing circle. He was entrusted with almost all covert operations in Croatia and Bosnia; from arms supplies to drafting plans of action. How he did the job is yet to be disclosed.

Who doesn't like him: The Yugoslav Left (JUL) because they consider him a war-monger and parts of the military counter intelligence service since his credits include weakening that service.

Which lobby is he part of: Primarily he's part of the obedient lobby (he won't turn against his boss ever), the Vojvodina lobby, Backa Palanka lobby and Crvenkas lobby.

Where can he be seen: With Milosevic, in the Metropol hotel, with Milorad Vucelic (RTS director), Mihalj Kertes (director of Yugoslav customs), Crncevic, and occasionally he surfaces in Pale.

The story of the special envoy: First Ceda Mihajlovic, who might have been someone's spy, accused him of war crimes, then the Western press tagged him as Milosevic's possible special envoy to the Hague and then Milosevic appointed him special envoy to Pale.

What did he do there: He took so many troops in red berets that he could have taken the hostages by force. One version says he told Karadzic: "Sloba (Milosevic) says something bad is going to happen to you if you don't release the hostages". They say Karadzic didn't reply but walked out of his office.

Do we know anything else about him: No and we won't unless his friend writer Brana Crncevic writes a drama.