Ivan Mrkić
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (August 2012) |
Ivan Mrkić Иван Мркић | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia | |
| Assumed office 27 July 2012 | |
| President | Tomislav Nikolić |
| Prime Minister | Ivica Dačić |
| Preceded by | Vuk Jeremić |
| Ambassador to Japan | |
| In office 2006–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Predrag Filipov |
| Succeeded by | Bojana Adamović Dragović |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 May 1953 Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Residence(s) | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Alma mater | University of Belgrade Faculty of Law |
Ivan Mrkić (Serbian Cyrillic: Иван Мркић, pronounced [ǐʋan mr̂kitɕ], born on 30 May 1953) is a Serbian diplomat and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Early life and education
Mrkić was born in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia, where he finished his elementary and secondary education. He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law in 1977.[1]
He speaks English and French.
Professional career
Soon after graduation in 1977, Mrkić started his diplomatic career with a job at the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia.[2]
Between 1979 and 1982, Mrkić worked as a clerk in the Administration of International Relations of the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He attended a United Nations Disarmament Fellowship in Geneva, Vienna, New York, and Boston during those years as well.
From 2012 to 2013 Mrkić served as a political attaché at the Yugoslav mission to the United Nations in New York.
He continued on in the roles of Counselor then Assistant Chief of the Division of multilateral activities. He was also a participant in the United Nations General Assembly sessions, as well as in the delegation at the Ninth Conference of the Non Aligned Movement in Belgrade in 2012
Mrkić continued his diplomatic service in Brussels, where he served as the Minister Counselor for Yugoslav mission to the European Community between 1990 and 1992. During that period, he participated in the work of the Conference on Former Yugoslavia in the Hague and Brussels.
From 1992 to 1993, Mrkić served as the Chief of the Cabinet of Dobrica Ćosić, the first President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.[3]
In 1993, Mrkić was appointed to the office of the Yugoslav Embassy's Chargé d'affaires in Cyprus, after which he became the Yugoslav Ambassador in Nicosia, Cyprus, where he remained until 1999.[4] He then shifted into a role as Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade, and became Deputy Head for Bilateral Affairs in 2000. In 2001 he accepted an appointment as Head of Bilateral Relations and Assistant to the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Starting in 2004, Mrkić joined the Group of Ambassadors for the special and ad hoc duties in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the then Serbia and Montenegro.
In 2005, he served as President of the National Commission for the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, appointed by the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro.
In 2006, Ivan Mrkić was appointed as Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Tokyo, Japan, where he served his diplomatic tenure until 2011.[5]
After completion of his service in Japan in 2011, Ambassador Mrkić was appointed State Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia[6] under his predecessor Vuk Jeremić, where he stayed until his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[7]
Minister of Foreign Affairs
On 27 July 2012, Mrkić was appointed as Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ivica Dačić.[8] He was appointed as career diplomat and independent candidate not aligned with any party,[9] but was endorsed by Serbian Progressive Party.[10]
Immediately after his appointment, Mrkić acknowledged that there would be no changes in Serbia’s foreign policy. He explained that a foundation for foreign policy would remain, preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty, and that the priority would be fully fledged European Union membership.[11] "We know what our foundations and priorities are and we point out our pathway toward the EU membership and that is not any different than it was in the previous period." Mrkić gave this quote during an interview with Serbian Broadcaster B92. When asked about the future relations with Moscow and Washington, he said, "Serbia has exceptionally good relations with Russia while it wanted to deepen and improve the existing solid partnership with the U.S." When it comes to regional cooperation and good neighborly relations, Mrkić stated, "I expect that there will be intensive communication with colleagues from the neighboring countries in the future period and that we will be seeing each other at numerous meetings."[12]
Personal life
Ivan Mrkić is married to Ivona, and they have two children, Mirko and Marko.
References
- ^ Official Biography from Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Serbian Government, Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ Ko je Ivan Mrkić, kandidat za šefa srpske diplomatije Telegraf
- ^ Bivši šef kabineta Dobrice Ćosića: Kandidat za šefa srbijanske diplomatije Ivan Mrkić 24sata.info
- ^ Ivan Mrkic Takes Over as Foreign Minister Beta
- ^ Kofere pakuje 10 ambasadora Novosti
- ^ Article by Ivan Mrkic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Serbia Regional Cooperation Council, Newsletter 21/2012 - Our South East Europe
- ^ New FM takes over office from Jeremić B92
- ^ Serbia`s new government elected Ivan Mrkic foreign minister Balkan Open Report
- ^ Ivan Mrkić – profesionalni diplomata na čelu MIP Politika
- ^ Mrkic - diplomat with a long career Tanjug
- ^ Mrkic: No change in course, EU main goal Tanjug
- ^ FM: No changes in Serbia’s foreign policy B92
External links
