Vojislav Stanimirović (Serbian Cyrillic: Војислав Станимировић; born 19 August 1953) is a Croatian Serb politician as well as the founder and former president of the Independent Democratic Serb Party. During his political career he held various functions both in Croatian and self-proclaimed Republic of Serbian Krajina institutions and political organizations. He was elected member of Croatian Parliament, president of the Independent Democratic Serb Party, 2nd Chairmen of the Government of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia and minister without portfolio in the last Cabinet of Milan Babić of the Government of the RSK.
Vojislav Stanimirović | |
|---|---|
Војислав Станимировић | |
 Stanimirović in 2010 | |
| Member of the Parliament | |
| In office 22 December 2011 – 28 December 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Zoran Milanović |
| Constituency | XII electoral district (minorities) |
| In office 22 December 2003 – 11 January 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Ivo Sanader |
| Constituency | XII electoral district (minorities) |
| Minister without portfolio for the RSK | |
| In office 27 July 1995 – 5 August 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| 2nd Chairmen of the Executive Council of the Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia | |
| In office 23 April 1996[1] – 29 May 1997[1] | |
| Preceded by | Borislav Držajić |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| 1st President of the Independent Democratic Serb Party | |
| In office March 1997[2] – 2 July 2017[2] | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Milorad Pupovac[2] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 August 1953 Tovarnik, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia |
| Spouse | Ljeposava Stanimirović |
| Alma mater | University of Belgrade |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Psychiatrist |
| Awards | Order for Special Merits in Podunavlje |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Yugoslavia |
| Branch/service | Yugoslav People's Army |
| Years of service | 1991–1993 |
| Unit | Medical Service |
| Commands | Medical Service |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Vukovar |
Over the years Stanimirović's political positions evolved from that of hawkish Serbian Radical supporter of unification of the Republic of Serbian Krajina and Republika Srpska before Operation Storm and prominent critic of more conciliatory and FR Yugoslavia aligned local authorities in Eastern Slavonia, to the main proponent of moderation and compromise after the initiation of the UNTAES mission in the region in which he was more willing to compromise than his former opponents.[1] With this transformation Stanimirović became one of the most prominent post-war Serb political representatives in Croatia.
Biography
editStanimirović was born in Tovarnik near Vukovar.[3] He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Belgrade.[4]
During the 1991 Battle of Vukovar, Stanimirović was a reserve officer who led the medical corps of the Yugoslav People's Army.[5][6] In 1992 the Yugoslav army named him director of the Vukovar Hospital and in 1993 he became a politician.[7] Stanimirović served as mayor of Vukovar during the time when this town was under Serbian occupation.
In his 1993 article in a local newspaper "Vojska Krajine", the Vukovar Hospital was described as "the last Ustaše fort". Because of the related Ovčara massacre, the statement was met with outrage in Croatian media when it was published in the runup to the 2003 Croatian parliamentary election. Stanimirović said this claim had been edited into his article.[8]
In 1995, Stanimirović was decorated with Order for Special Merits in Podunavlje by the former president of Republika Srpska, Radovan Karadžić in Banja Luka.[9]
He served as member of the Croatian Parliament from 22 December 2003 until 11 January 2008.[4] He was also elected in the 2007 Croatian parliamentary election, but served only until October 2008 when his deputy replaced him.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c Barić, Nikica (2011). "Srpska oblast Istočna Slavonija, Baranja i Zapadni Srijem – od "Oluje" do dovršetka mirne reintegracije hrvatskog Podunavlja (prvi dio)". Scrinia Slavonica. 11. Zagreb: Hrvatski institut za povijest: 393–451.
- ^ a b c "Milorad Pupovac izabran za predsjednika SDSS-a". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). HINA. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
- ^ Ninoslav Kopač (2012). Svjedok histerije. Zagreb: Serb Democratic Forum. p. 56. ISBN 978-953-57313-2-0.
- ^ a b "Vojislav Stanimirović" (in Croatian). Croatian Parliament. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ^ Flego, Miroslav (9 November 2010). ""Stanimirović ne govori istinu, neka ga DORH istraži"". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ^ Flego, Miroslav (6 July 2011). ""Ljeposava Stanimirović 1991. prikrivala srpske zločine"". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ^ Bradarić, Branimir (8 November 2010). "Stanimirović: Sve sam rekao Haagu, mogu opet i DORH-u!". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ^ Butigan, Sanja (7 November 2010). "Vojislav Stanimirović: Nije istina da su Srbi počeli rat u Vukovaru". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ^ "HSP: Srbija jača međunarodni položaj na teret žrtava iz Domovinskog rata" (in Croatian). Dalje.com. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
- ^ "Hrvatski sabor - Vojislav Stanimirović". www.sabor.hr. Archived from the original on 2008-01-18.