Svetozar Marovic
Encyclopedia
Svetozar Marović; born March 31, 1955) is a lawyer
and a Montenegrin politician
. He was the only president
of Serbia and Montenegro
. His term officially expired on June 3, 2006 when Montenegro declared its independence.
Marović was born in Kotor
to a Grbljanian father and Montenegrin mother, only because it was the closest town along Montenegrin coast with a maternity ward; however he considers Budva
as his hometown. He grew up there, and ever since his career in high politics took off, his extended family is one of the most affluent in Budva
.
He received his degree from Veljko Vlahović University's Faculty of Law in Titograd.
and Milo Đukanović in an administrative putsch within the League of Communists of Montenegro under the blessings of the Serbian Communists' leader, Slobodan Milošević
, which became known as the "anti-bureaucratic revolution
". After the first free parliamentary election in 1990 at which the Communist League of Montenegro
(SKCG) won majority, he became a member of Montenegro
's parliament, and later served as its speaker for three terms. A couple of months after their election win, SKCG was repackaged into the Democratic Party of Socialists
(DPS).
Along with Đukanović and Bulatović, Marović has been a loyal supporter of Slobodan Milošević
in all of his policies, but in 1997 he followed Milo Đukanović who broke away from Milošević's influence.
In 2001, former Montenegrin president Momir Bulatović
released a tell-all memoir named Pravila ćutanja (The Rules of Keeping Silent), accusing Marović, among many others, of accepting large financial compensation in return for turning a blind eye to widespread oil and tobacco smuggling in Montenegro during 1990s. Marović and Bulatović are former longtime party colleagues. In addition to former close friendship they also share an even more intimate bond through the godfather relations between their families.
Despite living in close proximity, as well as sharing many personal and political connections, but perhaps not surprisingly, the two have not spoken to each other in almost a decade.
In the book, Bulatović describes a private conversation during the 1990s in which he confronted Marović about the corruption and quotes his answer: "You see, Momir, you're the first ever President of Montenegro - that's the legacy you're passing on to your children. Me, I want something more concrete to leave my kids with."
Marović never responded directly to these claims, mentioning only that he hasn't read the book and punningly adding that he was taught some other rules - "like the rule of keeping silent about untruth and slander".http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:W4AnnwADitcJ:www.predsednik.gov.yu/press/vest.php%3Fid%3D485+Pravila+cutanja&hl=en
. This put him in the odd position of supporting the breakup of the state of which he is the head. In the wake of the referendum passing, Marović said that on June 1, 2006, he would "hold the last session of the Council of Ministers and resign...from the post of the president of the state union http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Montenegro_heads_to_independence_after_EU_boost.html?siteSect=143&sid=6743639&cKey=1148401450000".
) strived to end. Seeing as how DPS is the leading force in Montenegrin separatist movement and his party president Milo Đukanović a public face of the part of Montenegro pushing to end the union, it was very hard for many to imagine how Marović reconciled those views with his duties of furthering union's interests in the role of its President.
Started on March 7, 2003, Marović's term in office as President of Serbia-Montenegro was marked by his apologies to Croatian and Bosnian citizens as well as his involvement in the military equipment scandal that erupted in September 2005.
's state visit to Belgrade, Marović delivered a public apology for "all evils done by any citizen of Montenegro
and Serbia
to anyone in Croatia
."http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=09&dd=10&nav_id=119131 Mesić immediately followed suit, delivering a general counter-apology to "anyone whom citizens of Croatia caused any pain or damage, anytime, anyplace." http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=09&dd=10&nav_id=119131
This was particularly significant as far as Marović is concerned because it was in stark contrast to his views from the beginning of 1990s when he was the author of an infamous phrase: "war for peace," which is how he described and justified the Montenegrin reservists' assault on Dubrovnik
and Konavle
in 1991.
On November 13, 2003, he visited Sarajevo
and issued another apology, this time to citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina on behalf of citizens of Serbia-Montenegro, for "any evil or calamity that anyone in Bosnia-Herzegovina suffered at the hands of anyone from Serbia-Montenegro".http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=11&dd=13&nav_id=124553&nav_category=11 Unlike Stipe Mesić few months prior, Marović's Sarajevo hosts, members of Bosnia's 3-man rotating Presidency
weren't moved to reciprocate with any kind of an apology.
While the brunt of the responsibility was leveled at Minister of Defense Prvoslav Davinić, Marović was called out for signing and thus legitimizing such an obviously inflated contract that would end up costing the taxpayers of Serbia €296 million.
After budget commission confirmed Dinkić's allegations he went further on September 15, 2005, saying "it's completely clear Marović and Davinić were fully in the know about everything that went on" and also implicated several more defense ministry and army officials.http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=15&nav_id=176637
Davinić eventually resigned, the damaging contract was revoked, but Marović fought back in a written release accusing Dinkić of "libel and destroying state union's institutions". The statement continued: "As state union's president I'm responsible for everything. They should not blame anybody, they should not sue anybody, and they should not judge anybody - but me. Because of that, they should submit everything they have against me. But neither to their party investigators, nor to domestic courts they're squeezing with their temporary ministerial careers. Let them submit everything they have and more to the best, most experienced, most competent, highest paid and best regarded European and world investigators and courts and they will get an answer - that Svetozar Marović is a clean and honest man."
Over the next few days, members of Marović's cabinet, Montenegrin regime officials, as well as PM Milo Đukanović himself were all threatening with pulling all Montenegrin staff from Belgrade.http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=16&nav_id=176643http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=18&nav_id=176779
When the dust somewhat settled, Dinkić announced that "budget inspection met many obstructions within Ministry of Defense during the investigation" but that it's determined "to close the issue and put on trial those who are responsible". Whether those include Davinić and Marović, Dinkić was less clear but agreed that "prosecutor's office should go as high up the chain of command as necessary".http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=21&nav_id=176999
with a new program. During the conflicts between the Serbian Orthodox Church
and the uncanonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church
, Marović has stated support of SOC, being the one recognized. In October 2007 he led the DPS
-SDP
negotiations team on the table to reach a consensus on the new Montenegrin Constitution
. The agreement was that the official language will be called Montenegrin
, with both Latin
and Cyrillic official. Serbian
, Bosnian
, Albanian
and Croatian
recognized. Montenegro will be the state of the Montenegrin people, while Serbs
, Bosniacs, Albanians
and Croats
will be also mentioned in the Constitution. The Church will be separate from the state, none of them mentioned. Montenegrin citizens will not be able to have dual citizenship, however those who have before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence had multiple citizenships will keep it, effectively leaving just the Montenegrins in Serbia unable to hold dual citizenship.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and a Montenegrin politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the only president
President of Serbia and Montenegro
The President of Serbia and Montenegro was the head of state of Serbia and Montenegro. From its establishment in 1992 until 2003, when the country was reconstituted as a conferederacy via constitutional reform, the head of state was known as the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
. His term officially expired on June 3, 2006 when Montenegro declared its independence.
Marović was born in Kotor
Kotor
Kotor is a coastal city in Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The city has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality....
to a Grbljanian father and Montenegrin mother, only because it was the closest town along Montenegrin coast with a maternity ward; however he considers Budva
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
as his hometown. He grew up there, and ever since his career in high politics took off, his extended family is one of the most affluent in Budva
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
.
He received his degree from Veljko Vlahović University's Faculty of Law in Titograd.
Ongoing role in Montenegrin politics
In January 1989 Svetozar seized power over the Socialist Republic of Montenegro together with his partners, Momir BulatovićMomir Bulatovic
Momir Bulatović , formerly served as a Yugoslavian and Montenegrin politician. Bulatović became federal President of Montenegro while Montenegro was part of a Yugoslav federation, and also Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
and Milo Đukanović in an administrative putsch within the League of Communists of Montenegro under the blessings of the Serbian Communists' leader, Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
, which became known as the "anti-bureaucratic revolution
Anti-bureaucratic revolution
Anti-bureaucratic revolution as a term, refers to a series of mass protests against governments of Yugoslavian republics and autonomous provinces during 1988 and 1989, which led to resignations of leaderships of Kosovo, Vojvodina and Montenegro, and the capture of power by politicians close to...
". After the first free parliamentary election in 1990 at which the Communist League of Montenegro
League of Communists of Montenegro
The League of Communists of Montenegro was the Montenegrin branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, the sole legal party of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1990...
(SKCG) won majority, he became a member of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
's parliament, and later served as its speaker for three terms. A couple of months after their election win, SKCG was repackaged into the Democratic Party of Socialists
Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....
(DPS).
Along with Đukanović and Bulatović, Marović has been a loyal supporter of Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
in all of his policies, but in 1997 he followed Milo Đukanović who broke away from Milošević's influence.
In 2001, former Montenegrin president Momir Bulatović
Momir Bulatovic
Momir Bulatović , formerly served as a Yugoslavian and Montenegrin politician. Bulatović became federal President of Montenegro while Montenegro was part of a Yugoslav federation, and also Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
released a tell-all memoir named Pravila ćutanja (The Rules of Keeping Silent), accusing Marović, among many others, of accepting large financial compensation in return for turning a blind eye to widespread oil and tobacco smuggling in Montenegro during 1990s. Marović and Bulatović are former longtime party colleagues. In addition to former close friendship they also share an even more intimate bond through the godfather relations between their families.
Despite living in close proximity, as well as sharing many personal and political connections, but perhaps not surprisingly, the two have not spoken to each other in almost a decade.
In the book, Bulatović describes a private conversation during the 1990s in which he confronted Marović about the corruption and quotes his answer: "You see, Momir, you're the first ever President of Montenegro - that's the legacy you're passing on to your children. Me, I want something more concrete to leave my kids with."
Marović never responded directly to these claims, mentioning only that he hasn't read the book and punningly adding that he was taught some other rules - "like the rule of keeping silent about untruth and slander".http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:W4AnnwADitcJ:www.predsednik.gov.yu/press/vest.php%3Fid%3D485+Pravila+cutanja&hl=en
2006 Montenegrin independence vote
Marović's political party, the DPS, has backed full independence for Montenegro, and Marović campaigned for a "yes" vote in the 2006 referendum on Montenegrin independenceMontenegrin independence referendum, 2006
The Montenegrin independence referendum was a referendum on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro that was held on 21 May 2006.The total turnout of the referendum was 86.5%...
. This put him in the odd position of supporting the breakup of the state of which he is the head. In the wake of the referendum passing, Marović said that on June 1, 2006, he would "hold the last session of the Council of Ministers and resign...from the post of the president of the state union http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Montenegro_heads_to_independence_after_EU_boost.html?siteSect=143&sid=6743639&cKey=1148401450000".
Serbia-Montenegro Presidential term 2003-2006
As the head of Serbia and Montenegro's loose state union, the personal position Marović found himself in was very bizarre and even a bit absurd. Namely, for three years he was the president of the country whose very existence was something that the party of which he's a vice-president (DPSDemocratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....
) strived to end. Seeing as how DPS is the leading force in Montenegrin separatist movement and his party president Milo Đukanović a public face of the part of Montenegro pushing to end the union, it was very hard for many to imagine how Marović reconciled those views with his duties of furthering union's interests in the role of its President.
Started on March 7, 2003, Marović's term in office as President of Serbia-Montenegro was marked by his apologies to Croatian and Bosnian citizens as well as his involvement in the military equipment scandal that erupted in September 2005.
Apologies
On September 10, 2003, during Croatian president Stjepan MesićStjepan Mesić
Stjepan "Stipe" Mesić is a Croatian politician and former President of Croatia. Before his ten-year presidential term between 2000 and 2010 he held the posts of Speaker of the Croatian Parliament , Prime Minister of Croatia , the last President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Secretary General...
's state visit to Belgrade, Marović delivered a public apology for "all evils done by any citizen of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
to anyone in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
."http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=09&dd=10&nav_id=119131 Mesić immediately followed suit, delivering a general counter-apology to "anyone whom citizens of Croatia caused any pain or damage, anytime, anyplace." http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=09&dd=10&nav_id=119131
This was particularly significant as far as Marović is concerned because it was in stark contrast to his views from the beginning of 1990s when he was the author of an infamous phrase: "war for peace," which is how he described and justified the Montenegrin reservists' assault on Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
and Konavle
Konavle
Konavle is a small region and municipality located southeast of Dubrovnik, Croatia.It is administratively part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and forms a municipality with its center at Gruda with a total population of 8,250 people split in 32 villages, in which 96.5% are Croats...
in 1991.
On November 13, 2003, he visited Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
and issued another apology, this time to citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina on behalf of citizens of Serbia-Montenegro, for "any evil or calamity that anyone in Bosnia-Herzegovina suffered at the hands of anyone from Serbia-Montenegro".http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2003&mm=11&dd=13&nav_id=124553&nav_category=11 Unlike Stipe Mesić few months prior, Marović's Sarajevo hosts, members of Bosnia's 3-man rotating Presidency
Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the head of state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Overview:...
weren't moved to reciprocate with any kind of an apology.
Military equipment scandal
On September 1, 2005, Serbian Minister of Finance Mlađan Dinkić called a press conference to publicly show a military contract signed by Svetozar Marović. It was a 5-year arrangement between Serbia-Montenegro's Council of Ministers and Mile Dragić Company of Zrenjanin, stipulating terms of equipment supply to the Army of Serbia-Montenegro (VSCG) for the period between 2006 and 2011. Dinkić revealed: "Among other things, 69,000 helmets were ordered as well as more than 60,000 body armour suits for an Army that numbers 28,000 people!? Also 500 fighter pilot jackets for a fleet of barely 30 planes!"http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=01&nav_id=175786While the brunt of the responsibility was leveled at Minister of Defense Prvoslav Davinić, Marović was called out for signing and thus legitimizing such an obviously inflated contract that would end up costing the taxpayers of Serbia €296 million.
After budget commission confirmed Dinkić's allegations he went further on September 15, 2005, saying "it's completely clear Marović and Davinić were fully in the know about everything that went on" and also implicated several more defense ministry and army officials.http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=15&nav_id=176637
Davinić eventually resigned, the damaging contract was revoked, but Marović fought back in a written release accusing Dinkić of "libel and destroying state union's institutions". The statement continued: "As state union's president I'm responsible for everything. They should not blame anybody, they should not sue anybody, and they should not judge anybody - but me. Because of that, they should submit everything they have against me. But neither to their party investigators, nor to domestic courts they're squeezing with their temporary ministerial careers. Let them submit everything they have and more to the best, most experienced, most competent, highest paid and best regarded European and world investigators and courts and they will get an answer - that Svetozar Marović is a clean and honest man."
Over the next few days, members of Marović's cabinet, Montenegrin regime officials, as well as PM Milo Đukanović himself were all threatening with pulling all Montenegrin staff from Belgrade.http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=16&nav_id=176643http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=18&nav_id=176779
When the dust somewhat settled, Dinkić announced that "budget inspection met many obstructions within Ministry of Defense during the investigation" but that it's determined "to close the issue and put on trial those who are responsible". Whether those include Davinić and Marović, Dinkić was less clear but agreed that "prosecutor's office should go as high up the chain of command as necessary".http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2005&mm=09&dd=21&nav_id=176999
Post-Presidential
In 2007 Svetozar was re-elected Vice-President of the Democratic Party of Socialists of MontenegroDemocratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....
with a new program. During the conflicts between the Serbian Orthodox Church
Serbian Orthodox Church
The Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
and the uncanonical Montenegrin Orthodox Church
Montenegrin Orthodox Church
The Montenegrin Orthodox Church is an Orthodox Christian organization acting in Montenegro and Montenegrin emigration circles - e.g. the village of Lovćenac and the Montenegrin emigration colony in Argentina...
, Marović has stated support of SOC, being the one recognized. In October 2007 he led the DPS
Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....
-SDP
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro
The Social Democratic Party of Montenegro is a political party in Montenegro....
negotiations team on the table to reach a consensus on the new Montenegrin Constitution
Constitution of Montenegro
The current Constitution of Montenegro was ratified and adopted by the Constitutional Parliament of Montenegro on 19 October 2007 on an extraordinary session by achieving the required two-thirds supermajority of votes. The Constitution was officially proclaimed as the Constitution of Montenegro on...
. The agreement was that the official language will be called Montenegrin
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
, with both Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Cyrillic official. Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
, Bosnian
Bosnian language
Bosnian is a South Slavic language, spoken by Bosniaks. As a standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect, it is one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina....
, Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
and Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
recognized. Montenegro will be the state of the Montenegrin people, while Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
, Bosniacs, Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
and Croats
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
will be also mentioned in the Constitution. The Church will be separate from the state, none of them mentioned. Montenegrin citizens will not be able to have dual citizenship, however those who have before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence had multiple citizenships will keep it, effectively leaving just the Montenegrins in Serbia unable to hold dual citizenship.