Zoran ?in?i?

Zoran ?in?i? {{Audio|sr-ZoranDjindjic.ogg|listen}} (often Zoran Djindjic, from Serbian Cyrillic: ????? ??????) (August 1, 1952 – March 12, 2003) was Serbian prime minister, long-time opposition politician and philosopher by profession.

Related Topics:
Serbian - Cyrillic - August 1 - 1952 - March 12 - 2003 - Serbia - Politician - Philosopher

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?in?i? was born in Bosanski ?amac, a town on the Sava river in northern Bosnia. His father Dragomir was an officer in the Yugoslavian army. His mother Mila was a hostess. ?in?i? had one older sister - Gordana. ?in?i? took an interest in politics as a student at the University of Belgrade.

Related Topics:
Bosanski ?amac - Sava - Bosnia - University of Belgrade

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A pro-reform socialist, he continued his studies in Germany under professor Jürgen Habermas in Frankfurt. In 1979 he obtained a Ph.D. in philosophy from the university of Konstanz. He spoke fluent German. His English was of a moderate level.

Related Topics:
Socialist - Germany - Jürgen Habermas - Frankfurt - 1979 - Ph.D. - Philosophy - Konstanz - German - English

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In 1989 ?in?i? returned to Yugoslavia to take up a teaching post at Novi Sad University, and together with other Serb dissidents he founded the Democratic Party. He became Chairman of the Executive Board of the party in 1990, and was elected to the Parliament of Serbia in the same year. In 1993 he became the President of the Democratic Party. Following the collapse of the short-lived coalition "Zajedno" (Together) with Vuk Dra?kovi?'s SPO and Vesna Pe?i?'s GSS, ?in?i? registered as a separate candidate. After a massive series of public protests over rigged elections, ?in?i? became Mayor of Belgrade in 1997, the first non-communist mayor to hold that post since the Second World War.

Related Topics:
Yugoslavia - Novi Sad - Democratic Party - Vuk Dra?kovi? - SPO - Vesna Pe?i? - GSS - Belgrade - Second World War

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During the NATO bombing campaign of Serbia, Đinđić sought safety and fled to temporary exile in Montenegro because of information provided to him by Arkan that he was at the top of the assassination list of then-President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia Slobodan Milo?ević's secret service. Before long, he left for Western countries, visiting Gerhard Schröder and Bill Clinton. Photo of his handshake with Clinton at time of bombing was used by Milo?ević's propaganda to portray him as a traitor. Upon his return to the country in July 1999, Đinđić was charged with endangering state security in a trial that was rigged and closed to the public. In September 1999 Đinđić was named by TIME magazine as one of the most relevant politicians for the 21st century.

Related Topics:
NATO - Serbia - Montenegro - Arkan - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - Slobodan Milo?ević - Gerhard Schröder - Bill Clinton - TIME

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Before long, he left for Germany, visiting Gerhard Schröder and Bill Clinton. Photos of his handshakes with Clinton during the bombing as well as statements made to a radio station apparently supporting the bombing itself were used back home in order to portray ?in?i? as a traitor. He returned to Yugoslavia in July 1999. ?in?i? was charged with endangering state security as well as desertion, both of which he was cleared by Slobodan Milo?evi?'s presidential pardon. In September 1999 ?in?i? was named by TIME magazine as one of the most relevant politicians for the 21st century.

Related Topics:
Gerhard Schröder - Bill Clinton - TIME

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?in?i? played a prominent role in the presidential elections of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in September 2000 and in the October 5 uprising that overthrew the Milo?evi?'s regime, and then led the broad-based 18-party Democratic Opposition of Serbia coalition to victory in the Serbian elections of December 2000. He became Premier of Serbia on January 25, 2001. He played a key role in sending Milo?evi? to the UN War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. However, ?in?i? said that he became disillusioned with the protracted trial of Milo?evi?, and later condemned it as an expensive "circus". ?in?i? said the court in The Hague was "allowing Milo?evi? to behave like a demagogue and to control the trial".

Related Topics:
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - 2000 - October 5 - Democratic Opposition of Serbia - Premier - Serbia - January 25 - 2001 - UN War Crimes Tribunal - The Hague

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?in?i? was received favourably by Western nations. His meetings with Western leaders George Bush, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and others strongly indicated that the West supported his politics. ?in?i? had constant disagreements with Yugoslav federal president Vojislav Ko?tunica who was equally his biggest political rival in Serbia itself. On the other hand, he had a close relationship with Montenegrin president Milo ?ukanovi? and Milorad Dodik of Republika Srpska.

Related Topics:
George Bush - Tony Blair - Jacques Chirac - Vojislav Ko?tunica - Milo ?ukanovi? - Milorad Dodik

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On August 7, 2001, ?in?i? headed a delegation that met with Bill Gates, in Redmond, becoming the first head of state to pay an official visit to Microsoft. ?in?i? and Gates discussed the modernization of Serbian public services, and agreed that Serbia would become Microsoft's strategic partner and that Belgrade would become Microsoft's main residence and software representative center for the underdeveloped region of the Balkans. Nothing has come of this initiative thus far.

Related Topics:
August 7 - 2001 - Bill Gates - Redmond - Microsoft - Balkans

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