A Group Portrait of Djindjic´s Cabinet

Zoran Djindjic, Democratic Party (DS) – prime minister of the government

Born on Aug. 1, 1952 in Bosanski Samac. Graduated at the School of Philosophy in Belgrade in 1974. He completed his post-graduate studies at the university of Constance (Germany), where he also defended his PhD thesis (1979). One of the founders of the Democratic Party, he was president of the executive board (90-94) and in 1994 he was elected president of DS. He was a delegate in the Serbian parliament (90-93) and DS party chief in the parliament of Serbia (92-93). Following the victory of the coalition Zajedno at the local elections, he was mayor of Belgrade for three months. He heads the list of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia for the Council of Republics of the federal parliament and is a delegate in that house.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS

Nebojsa Covic, Democratic Alternative (DA) – deputy prime minister of the government in charge of economy and finances

Born on July 2, 1958 in Zeleznik. Graduated at the Mechanical Engineering School in Belgrade in 1982, acquired his MSc degree in 1988, his PhD in 2000. After working in the Ivo Lola Ribar factory and in the Kolubara mine, he was elected general manager of DP Proleter in 1990, (later called DP FMP TRADE). He was vice-president of the executive board of the city parliament of Belgrade (92), president of the executive council of Belgrade (93), mayor of Belgrade (94-97), president of the city SPS board (92-93), deputy in the parliament of Serbia (93-97). He was expelled from the Socialist Party of Serbia (97), founder and president of the Democratic Alternative (97).

Vuk Obradovic, Social-Democratic Party (SD) – deputy prime minister in charge of combating corruption and crime

Born on April 11, 1947 in the village of Kondzelj in Toplica. Completed the Military Academy of the ground forces. Acquired his PhD in the military-political science. He was extraordinarily and prematurely promoted four times. The first spokesman of the Federal Secretariat of National Defense (SSNO) (90) and in 1992 head of the Department of Moral Education in SSNO. He broke off his successful military career in ´92 when he resigned from the military ranks because he failed to keep his promise given to the parents of the conscripted soldiers that their children would be returned from Sarajevo. Following that he worked as a building contractor. One of the founders and president of the Social-Democratic party. Delegate in the Council of Republics of the parliament of Yugoslavia.

Dusan Mihajlovic, New Democracy (ND) – deputy prime minister of the government in charge of local self-management and state issues

Born on Sept. 27, 1948 in Valjevo. Graduated at the School of Law in Belgrade. Worked in the Secretariat of Internal Affairs of Serbia, he was vice president of the municipal assembly of Valjevo, president of the executive council and president of this municipality, followed by vice-president of the executive council of Serbia and deputy in the parliament of Serbia. Owner and president of the board of directors of the Lutra a.d. company, president of New Democracy. Deputy in the Council of Republics of the federal parliament.

Jozef Kasa, Alliance of Vojvodina´s Hungarians (SVM) – deputy prime minister

Born on Feb. 6, 1945 in Subotica. Graduated at the School of Economics –majored in industrial economics (1979). He was financial director of the city´s water supply public utility company (1970-73), ITK Backaprodukt (1973-76) and Suboticanka. He was mayor of Subotica as of 1989. He was elected to be a national deputy in three mandates as the deputy of the Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina´s Hungarians (DZVM). Dissatisfied with DZVM´s policies, he founded the Alliance of Vojvodina´s Hungarians with a group of followers in 1993 whose president he became in 1995. 

Zarko Korac, Social-Democratic Union (SDU) – deputy prime minister of the government in charge of culture

Born in 1947 in Belgrade. He graduated at the School of Philosophy, Department of Psychology in 1970 in Belgrade, after which he acquired an MA degree, followed by a PhD. He is professor of psychology at the School of Philosophy in Belgrade. He was vice-president of the Civic Alliance and deputy in the parliament of Serbia from 1993 until 1997, and following a split within this party, he founded the Social-Democratic Union whose president he is. Deputy of the Council of Republics in the federal parliament.

Aleksandar Pravdic, Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) – deputy prime minister in charge of economy

Born in 1958 in Cacak. Graduated at the School of Economics in Belgrade. He worked as an economic analyst in the Medical Center in Gornji Milanovac. One of the founders of the Democratic Party of Serbia. From 1996 to 1998 he was a member of the executive board, followed by vice-president of DSS. He is currently president of the municipal assembly in Gornji Milanovac and deputy in the Council of Republics of the federal parliament.

Momcilo Perisic, Movement for a Democratic Serbia (PDS) – deputy prime minister of the government in charge of national security

Born on May 22, 1944 in Kostunici on Ravna Gora in the vicinity of Gornji Milanovac. Lieutenant general, chief of the general staff of the Yugoslav Army from 1993 until 1998. He graduated at the Military Academy of ground forces, artillery branch, (1966), and holds a BA degree in psychology as well. He was decorated on several occasions. He is the founder and president of the Movement for a Democratic Serbia.

MINISTERS

Vladan Batic, Demo-Christian Party of Serbia (DHSS) - justice minister

Born in 1949 in Obrenovac. Graduated at the School of Law in Belgrade (1972), acquired an MA degree (1977), and his PhD in 1981. He was employed as a legal officer in the municipal assembly of Obrenovac. As of 1984 he has his own law office. He is one of the founders of the Democratic Party. Following the split in DS, he was one of the founders of the Democratic Party of Serbia and vice-president from 1992 to 1996. He was head of the DSS deputy group in the parliament of Serbia. Having been expelled from the party in 1997, he founded the Demo-Christian Party of Serbia, whose president he is.

Gaso Knezevic, Civic Alliance of Serbia (GSS) – education minister

Born in 1953 in Belgrade. He graduated, acquire his MA (1982) and PhD degree (1987) at the School of Law in Belgrade. From 1977 to 1980 he was an expert associate of the District Business Court in Belgrade. He was employed by the School of Law from 1980 until 2000, when he handed in his notice due to his disagreement when Vojislav Seselj was engaged as a professor. He then worked as a lawyer and executive director of the Center for Advancement of Law Studies. At the time when he was appointed minister in the interim government, he returned to the School of Law. He is a member of the presidency of the Civic Alliance of Serbia.

Vojislav Milovanovic, minister of religion

Born on April 23, 1947 in Apatin. He graduated at the Civil Engineering School, Department of Geodesy in Belgrade, where he also acquired his MSc degree (1974) and PhD (1978). He is a professor at the Civil Engineering School. From 1985 he constructed the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade and is the chief constructor of this church. 

Dragan Domazet, Democratic Party (DS) – minister of science and technology

Born in Nis in 1949. Professor of the Mechanical Engineering School in Nis. He was vice-president of the Democratic Party in 1993.

Dragan Vuksanovic, Democratic Center – minister of sport and youth

Born in 1956 in Belgrade. He graduated at the School of Economics in 1983. Until 1985, he was a professional basketball player and played for the IMT team. He was director of Union Engineering for five years. He was a member of DS ever since its formation, but joined the Democratic Center after that party was formed.

Aleksandar Vlahovic, minister for economic growth and privatization

Born on Feb. 2, 1963 in Belgrade. He graduated at the School of Economics in 1987. From 1987 until 1992 he worked as a consultant at the Economic Institute in Belgrade. In 1992 he joined Deloitte & Touche, in 1999 he became a partner in the Central European department, and in July 2000 he was appointed general manager for Yugoslavia.

Dragan Veselinov, Vojvodina Coalition (KV) – agriculture minister

Born on May 3, 1950 in the village of Baranda. Graduated at the School of Political Sciences in 1973 where he also earned his PhD (1979), and he acquired his MA degree at the School of Economics in Belgrade (1977). His specialization is agrarian economics. He is a full-time professor at the School of Political Sciences in Belgrade. He is president of the People´s Peasant Party (as of 1990) and president of the Vojvodina Coalition as of 1996.

Goran Novakovic, minister of energetics and mining

Lives in London, expert in the field of energetics.

Bozidar Djelic, finance minister

Born on April 1, 1965 in Belgrade. Lived in France and graduated at the Institute of Political Sciences and at the Business School. He holds an MA in economics. At the Harvard School of Business he specialized finances and strategies, and he also earned an MBA at the Harvard School of Government and Diplomacy in macroeconomics and international relations.

Dragan Milovanovic, Association of Independent Syndicates (ASNS) – minister of labor and employment

Born on Sept. 30, 1955 in the village of Prkosan, municipality of Lazarevac. He completed the Mechanical Engineering College in Belgrade. Is employed in IMT where he formed an independent syndicate in 1991 and was elected secretary of the first specialized independent syndicate. He was elected president of the Independent Syndicate of Metalworkers in 1994. He is one of the founders and president of the Association of Independent and Free Syndicates.

Gordana Matkovic, Democratic Party (DS) – minister of social policies, in charge of assisting families and refugees

Born on March 15, 1960 in Belgrade. Graduated and acquired an MA degree at the School of Economics, and a PhD at the Department of Sociology of the School of Philosophy. Worked in the Economic Institute in Belgrade, and as of 1996 is director of the Center for International Projects.

Branislav Lecic, minister of culture

Born on Aug. 25, 1955 in Sabac. Graduated at the School of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. Is a member of the Yugoslav Drama Theater as of 1980.

Goran Pitic, minister of economic collaboration with foreign countries

Born in 1961 in Veles. Graduated at the School of Economics in Belgrade. Acquired his MA degree in Canada and Belgrade, where he defended his PhD thesis. He is an assistant professor at the School of Economics in Belgrade. He was director of the Economic Institute.

Marija Raseta Vukosavljevic, traffic minister

Born on March 5, 1962 in Belgrade. Graduated at the Civil Engineering School (majored in construction) in Belgrade. Her first employment was in CIP (1990), where she was the chief planning engineer in the Construction Bureau and manager for operations with foreign countries.

Dragoslav Sumarac, civil engineering minister

Born on Aug. 25, 1955 in Raska. Graduated at the Civil Engineering School in Belgrade, where he acquired his MSc (1983) and PhD (1987). He was employed as assistant for a group of technical mechanics subjects at the same School, where he is now a full-time professor.

Obren Joksimovic, health minister

Born on May 15, 1952 in the village of Ocevljen, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He graduated at the School of Medicine in Belgrade in 1979, and is a general surgery specialist. Was a volunteer at the ex-Yugoslav war fronts. He was a Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) delegate on the Depos list in the parliament of Yugoslavia, but he returned his mandate and became a member of the Democratic party of Serbia (1995). Deputy in the Council of Citizens of the Yugoslav parliament.