Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro, Mar. 7, 2003 - Svetozar Marovic was today elected as the first president of the new Serbia-Montenegro Union.
In accordance with the Constitutional Charter, Marovic – Deputy Leader of the Montenegrin Democratic Party of Socialists – will preside over the state union’s Council of Ministers.
In an individual and public vote of 112 MPs, Marovic was elected by a margin of 18, with 65 voting in
favor of his election, 46 of whom were Serbian MPs and 19 Montenegrin; and 47 voting in opposition, 34 of whom were Serbian and 13 Montenegrin.
Following the announcement of the result, the newly elected President swore an oath before the parliament, which was attended by diplomats, representatives of religious communities, respective Serbian and Montenegrin Prime Ministers Zoran Djindjic and Milo Djukanovic, Montenegrin Speaker Filip Vujanovic and the last Yugoslav president Vojislav Kostunica.
Marovic’s pledge read: "I swear I will carry out the duty of the president of state union of Serbia and Montenegro in accordance with the state union's Constitutional Charter, conscientiously and
honorably,".
In his inauguration speech, Marovic called the agreement on the state union “the first democratic agreement between Serbia and Montenegro ever”, and linked the faith of the country to the quality of its citizens lives and not the will of politicians.
Marovic was born in Kotor in 1955 and graduated from Podgroica’s Law School. He is a co-founder of the DPS party and was responsible for deciding the party’s name.
He was elected as Montenegrin Parliamentary Speaker on three consecutive occasions, beginning in 1994, and has served as Secretary-General, vice-president and federal and Montenegrin MP for the DPS.
The new president is also a publicist and cultural worker and has written for numerous dailies, weeklies and magazines, as well as creating and co-founding many Budva festivals, including theatrical and poetical events.
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