Milo Đukanović
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2008-07-12T20:05:29Z
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/77.222.14.178|77.222.14.178]] ([[User talk:77.222.14.178|talk]]) to last version by ClueBot
{{Infobox Prime Minister
| name = Milo Đukanović<br>Мило Ђукановић
| smallimage = Milo Đukanović.jpg
| order = [[Prime Minister of Montenegro]]
| president = [[Filip Vujanović]]
| term_start = [[29 February]] [[2008]]
| predecessor = [[Željko Šturanović]]
| president1 = [[Filip Vujanović]]<br>[[Rifat Rastoder]]<br>[[Dragan Kujović]]<br>[[Filip Vujanović]]
| term_start1 = [[08 January]] [[2003]]
| term_end1 = [[10 November]] [[2006]]
| predecessor1 = [[Dragan Đurović]] <small>(Acting)</small>
| successor1 = [[Željko Šturanović]]
| president2 = [[Momir Bulatović]]
| term_start2 = [[15 February]] [[1991]]
| term_end2 = [[05 February]] [[1998]]
| predecessor2 = [[Radoje Kontić]]<small>[[Socialist Republic of Montenegro|SR Montenegro]]</small>
| successor2 = [[Filip Vujanović]]
| order3 = [[President of Montenegro]]
| primeminister3 = [[Filip Vujanović]]
| term_start3 = [[15 January]] [[1998]]
| term_end3 = [[25 November]] [[2002]]
| predecessor3 = [[Momir Bulatović]]
| successor3 = [[Filip Vujanović]]
| order4 = Minister of Defence of Montenegro
| term_start4 = [[05 June]] [[2006]]
| term_end4 = [[10 November]] [[2006]]
| predecessor4 = Office created
| successor4 = [[Boro Vučinić]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|2|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nikšić]], [[People's Republic of Montenegro|Montenegro]], [[Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]
| party = [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro|DPSCG]]
| spouse = Lidija Kuč
| children = Blažo Đukanović
| religion = [[Atheism|Atheist]]
}}
'''Milo Đukanović''' ([[Serbian Cyrillic]]: Мило Ђукановић){{Audio|Sr-Milo Đukanović.ogg|listen}} (born [[15 February]], [[1962]]) is the [[Prime Minister of Montenegro|Prime Minister]] of [[Montenegro]] . He previously served three terms as PM from 1991 to 1998 (1991-1993, 1993-1996 & 1996-1998), and one again from 2003 to 2006. From 1998 to 2002 he was [[President of Montenegro|the Republic's President]]. He is the long-term President of the [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro]], originally Montenegrin branch of the Yugoslavian Communist Party, governing Montenegro ever since parliamentism. He is controversial for his role in the 1990s and very high continuous level of influence in Montenegrin political life, and faces allegations of being a [[criminal]] [[tycoon]] under investigation.
When Đukanović emerged on the political scene as a youngster, he was a close ally of [[Slobodan Milošević]]. In 1996 however, he turned against him, abandoning the traditional joint Serbian and Montenegrin vision in favour of a sovereignist ideology. He oversaw the conversion of the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] into the [[State Union of Serbia and Montenegro]] and Montenegro’s increasing separation from Serbia, culminating in the victory at the [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|2006 independence referendum]].
==Early life==
Born in [[Nikšić]] to an upper-middle class family (his father, Radovan, a judge, and his mother, Stana, a nurse) from the [[Cuce]] [[Serb clans|Old Montenegrin clan]], Đukanović grew up with two siblings - younger brother [[Aco Đukanović|Aco]] and older sister Ana. He completed primary and secondary school in his home town of Nikšić, before enrolling at [[Veljko Vlahović University]]'s Faculty of Economics in [[Titograd]] where he graduated in 1986 with a diploma in tourism studies. As a youngster, Đukanović, standing well over 190cm in height, was a keen and avid basketball player.
==Political career==
===Early days in politics===
In 1979 while still in high school, Đukanović joined the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav Communist League]]. His father Radovan was already an influential member within the party's [[League of Communists of Montenegro|Montenegrin branch]], which initially opened many doors for young Milo. By 1986 he was a presidency member of Socialist Youth Alliance's (SSO) Montenegrin branch as well as the presidency member of its federal-level parent organization.<small><ref>[http://www.politika.co.yu/rubrike/Svet/Milo-ce-o-Kosovu-kada-za-to-dodje-vreme.sr.html Politika, March 1, 2008]</ref></small> As a member of the party's various youth bodies he quickly stood out from the pack, earning a nickname ''Britva'' ('Straight razor') for his direct, fiery and forceful rhetoric. Progressing steadily up the party ladder, by mid-1989 following the "[[anti-bureaucratic revolution]]", Đukanović became a member of the League's highest decision making body - the Central Committee. He became the Secretary of the Presidency of the League of Communists of Montenegro, a post he held until its transformation into [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro|DPS CG]].
===Ascent to power in Montenegro===
Actively tagging along with somewhat more seasoned [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia|Communist League]] members like [[Momir Bulatović]] and [[Svetozar Marović]], Đukanović was still only 26 years old when the trio effectively gained power through full institutional control in Montenegro on [[January 10]], [[1989]]. They forced out the old Montenegrin communist guard by riding the wave of the so-called "anti-bureaucratic revolution", an administrative putsch within the Communists League orchestrated by [[Slobodan Milošević]] and the state security apparatus.
Effectively, Đukanović, Bulatović, and Marović became Milošević's extended hands in Montenegro, controlling the political and security apparatus he was in the finishing stages of molding to his personal preferences.
Within days in January 1989, the trio ousted [[Miljan Radović]] (chairman of the League of Communists of Montenegro) and [[Božina Ivanović]] (president of Presidency of SR Montenegro), replacing them with politically obedient confidants [[Milica Pejanović-Đurišić]] and [[Branko Kostić]], respectively. President of Executive Council of Montenegro [[Vuko Vukadinović]] initially survived the putsch, but within months he was on his way out as well to be replaced with [[Radoje Kontić]].
Đukanović and the others galvanized public opinion within the republic by organizing workers and bussing them to the capital [[Titograd]] to protest in front of the Assembly. Although many have since made allegations about the shady role security apparatus played in this forced transfer of power ([[Slavko Perović]] among many others[http://www.dan.cg.yu/?nivo=3&rubrika=Povodi&datum=2006-01-28&clanak=45422]), it is undeniable that the trio also capitalized on the "young, good-looking, and smart" image (''mladi, lijepi i pametni''), which resonated with certain people after state-run media developed it through various [[astroturfing]] methods. Đukanović's youthful looks and potent eloquence proved particularly useful in creation and proliferation of this image.
Within a year, the single-party system was abolished, and the first free elections were being prepared.
===Prime Minister of Montenegro in 3 consecutive terms 1991-1998===
After the [[Montenegrin parliamentary election, 1990|1990 parliamentary election]] resulted in a remarkable victory for the Montenegrin League of Communists, on February 15, 1991, Milo was, surprisingly to all, appointed by President [[Momir Bulatović]] with the blessings of then Serbian president [[Slobodan Milošević]] as President of the first democratically elected government. He thus became the Montenegrin Prime Minister for the first time in his life. Having just turned 29 years of age, Đukanović was the youngest prime minister in Europe. It was the first salaried position in his life. In 1991, the Montenegrin Communist League finished its transformation into the [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro]] (DPS). His office was secured after [[Montenegrin parliamentary election, 1992|1992 parliamentary election]], in which DPS won an absolute majority. Throughout this 1991–1997 period, Đukanović governed loyally to Momir Bulatović and Slobodan Milošević.
Đukanović’s government sent troops to fight [[Croatian War of Independence|seceding Croatia]] as he opposed the fallout of Yugoslavia caused by Slovenian independence and rebellions in other areas. Đukanović's cabinet organized the [[Siege of Dubrovnik]] in 1991/92, which resulted in the city suffering heavy destructions as Yugoslav forces failed to take it. The area of [[Konavli]] was raided heavily. After recognizing the eventual loss of Croatia and Bosnia and the general dissolution of SFRY, Montenegro had a [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 1992|referendum]] on which almost all voters decided to stay in Yugoslavia. Subsequently the Republic of Montenegro created a [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] with the Republic of Serbia. Milo campaigned heavily for the preservation of a rump Yugoslavia with Serbia. From 1991 until 1997 he aligned himself with Slobodan Milošević's policies. Montenegro-wide roundup of [[Muslim]] refugees from [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]] and their subsequent handover to forces of [[Bosnian Serb Army|Bosnian Serbs]] happened while Đukanović was Prime Minister. The most infamous was the handover of 200 Moslem refugees in 1992 directly to the Trebinje corpus at the order of Milo Đukanović. For 23 days the Montenegrin police and Yugoslav special forces under Milo's command hunted down the Muslims until each and every one of them was arrested. 83 were executed. Đukanović also frequently visited scores of reservists and volunteers from Montenegro that fought in [[Konavle]] and [[Dubrovnik]] frontlines in 1991. Some of his notable statements from this period include a proclamation about "''starting to hate chess because of the [[šahovnica]]'' (the chequerboard Croatian coat-of-arms)" and an aggressive declaration delivered in a public speech during assault on Dubrovnik that "''We have already thinned the [[AVNOJ]] borders of Montenegro and Herzegovina, that is eastern Bosnia and Montenegro. Enough has the [[Serbs|Serbian people]] been a slave to brotherhood and unity, AVNOJist, Tito's Yugoslavia, and even the dreams of [[Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia|Aleksandar Karađorđević]] to fix Yugoslavia.''" or "''it's time to once and for all establish the firmest border possible with Croatia, but it will be a border a lot more just and realistic than the existing one that was drawn-up by Bolshevik map makers''"[http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:vzmZp-LvCFEJ:www.mediaclub.cg.yu/izjave/izjave%25202001/septembar/31-1.htm+Potencirate+sacuvali+Crnu+Goru+ratnih+sukoba,+slucajno+namerno+zaboravljate+1991.+godinu+Dubrovacko+ratiste.+Da+Vas+podsetim+-+to+vreme,+predsednik+vlade,+govorili+%3F%3F%3FCrna+Gora+dobiti+nametnuti+rat%22+i+da+ce+se+razgraniciti+sa+Hrvatskom+%3F%3F%3Fza+sva+vremena%22,+s+tim+da+ce+%3F%3F%3Fnove+granice+biti+povucene+mnogo+pravednije+i+logicnije+nego+sto+su+to+radili+priuceni+boljsevicki+kartografi%22.+&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1].
In 1992, Đukanović became involved in a fierce political clash with the pro-Croatian Montenegrin artist and activist, [[Jevrem Brković]], which resulted in Brković's exile to [[Croatia]] (until 1998). On this occasion Đukanović stated: ''Every smart Montenegrin and every honest man in this land mentions the name of the traitor Jevrem Brković with hatred, who in pure vanity betrayed his people and knowingly spreads anti-Yugoslav speeches across Zagreb, while the [[Ustaša]]s, again like in 1941, bleed the defenseless Serbian civilians'' (referring to the [[World War II]] ethnic cleansing of [[Serbs in Croatia]]).
Though a Marxist in his youth, Đukanović was reported to be "the kind of politician who has a picture of [[Margaret Thatcher]] above his desk". He was looked on favorably by foreign investors. In the 1990s he swiftly forced all socially owned (worker owned) companies into state ownership where they were sold to private foreign interests. (Blishen. ''Central European.'' May 1996.Vol.6,Iss.5)
In 1996, Milo began to fall out with Milošević. Milo opposed the [[Dayton Accords]] which he criticized as being anti-Serb, publicly blasting Milosevic in an interview for the Belgrade weekly ''[[Vreme]]''. At that time Milošević was facing harsh criticism in Serbia with student protests in the Winter of 1996/1997. This was in stark contrast to the stance of [[Momir Bulatović]] who in addition to being the President of Montenegro also then headed the pro-Milošević [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro|Democratic Party of Socialists]]. At the 1996 parliamentary election DPS won the absolute majority yet again, however, the rift within the party between Đukanović and Bulatović remained.
===President of Montenegro 1998-2002===
Soon, Bulatović's protégé wrested control of both the party and the republic from his mentor.
First, Đukanović won a narrow majority support within the [[Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro|DPS]] party, a political leverage he then quickly used to cleanse it of all pro-Bulatović elements while simultaneously taking over state-controlled media and security apparatus with the help of his DPS ally Vukašin Maraš.
Then, in July of 1997, Đukanović announced his decision to contest Bulatović for the position of president of Montenegro. In the first round of elections on October 5, 1997, with 145,348 votes Đukanović lagged by roughly 2,000 votes behind Bulatović's 147,615 (Bulatović at the time continued to be a staunch ally of [[Slobodan Milošević]]).
[[Image:Milo prez kampanja 1997.jpg|right|thumb|310px|right|Đukanović campaign poster for the October 1997 presidential elections. The slogan exclaims: ''Get involved! Vote for Milo!'']]
Three of the other candidates, who received 11,000 votes in total, gave support to Bulatović for the second round run-off scheduled for October 19, 1997. However, in the controversial second round vote, seen by many as the Đukanović's camp most significant electoral victory since the beginning of their rule, Đukanović won the second round by a margin of five thousand, after surprisingly assembling 29,000 more votes than in the first round (Đukanović got 174,745 votes while Bulatović got 169,257). Bulatović's faction disputed the regularity of this second round and refused to recognize the results, alleging that Đukanović forged the results. Bulatović eventually organized protests in Podgorica in January 1998 that featured violent scenes. However, the results stood, and Đukanović was sworn in as president of Montenegro on [[January 15]], [[1998]].
This victory cemented Đukanović's hold on power in Montenegro. Bulatović, his one-time mentor, was completely squeezed out and now all institutions of power (DPS party, government, parliament and President's office) were firmly in the hands of Đukanović and his handpicked circle of associates.
Already distant from Milošević and his regime, Đukanović took this policy further, although assuring everyone that he saw the future of Montenegro in the same country with [[Serbia]]. He very much tried to project an impression that whatever problems Montenegro had with its participation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had only to do with the authoritarian Milošević regime and not with Serbian democratic forces or the people of Serbia. He said on [[27 February]] [[1999]]: ''Montenegro is not [[Slovenia]], it is a component part of Yugoslavia and that it wants to stay''.
[[Image:milo Đukanović.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Milo Đukanović (right) talks to [[William Cohen]] in [[the Pentagon]], November 4, 1999]]
In 1998, the West also began to turn its back on Milošević. Naturally, Đukanović became an automatic local ally in this policy shift. That was especially obvious after the end of [[Kosovo war|NATO bombing]] when [[FRY|Yugoslavia]] was plunged into deep international isolation. Milošević and other members of his clique were considered pariahs by every western government, so Đukanović became one of the few elected politicians within [[FRY|Yugoslavia]] they would openly communicate with. They were willing to overlook Đukanović's communist past, initial pro-war stance, and mounting evidence of criminal involvement, allowing him to regularly meet with [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] administration officials such as Secretary of State [[Madeleine Albright]], Secretary of Defense [[William Cohen]] and National Security Adviser [[Sandy Berger]] as well as British PM [[Tony Blair]], British Foreign Secretary [[Robin Cook]] and [[NATO]] Secretary-General [[Javier Solana]] all throughout this period.
Some credited Đukanović for the fact that Montenegro was spared from the brunt of the bombing that devastated the infrastructure of Serbia, suffering no greater destruction. The moment that sparked most controversy in 1999 is when Milo as President openly asked President Clinton to bomb Montenegro. The opposition used this in their favor and alleged that the bombing targets were solely pro-Serbian forces in Montenegro, like party headquarters.
However, this special relationship decreased after October 2000 when Milošević was [[Bulldozer Revolution|finally ousted]] and [[Democratic Opposition of Serbia|a coalition]] led by [[Zoran Đinđić]] and [[Vojislav Koštunica]] took power in Belgrade.
Soon after the change in [[Serbia]], Đukanović shifted his own politics again and now, for the very first time, started openly pushing for Montenegrin independence, but lost the strong support of the West.
===Prime Minister again, 2002-2006===
On November 25, 2002, Đukanović resigned as President, several months before the end of his term, in order to become Prime Minister again. He took office as prime minister several weeks later. Filip Vujanović, the prime minister during his presidency, succeeded him as president.
The beginning of his new office was characterized by the so-called "Moldovan scandal". Next to the previous cigarette smuggling scandals, Đukanović's cabinet faced a revelation of an organized [[slave trade|sex-slave trafficking]]; particularly of a young [[Moldova]]n girl. Deputy State Prosecutor Zoran Piperović and other high governmental officials and close friends of Milo were arrested
From the downfall of Milošević until the recognition of Montenegro’s independence in June 2006, Đukanović struggled with Serbia over the issue of Montenegrin independence. His pro-independence policy resulted in a compromise some see as having been imposed by the [[European Union]] and its newly named foreign policy chief [[Javier Solana]], with the creation of the new [[State Union of Serbia and Montenegro]] (replacing the two-republic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia), but this also caused fallout with elements of his supporters who wanted him to push for full independence. As a result, he became the most high-profile supporter of the [[Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006|Montenegrin independence referendum in 2006]]. He is widely regarded as the single most responsible person for renewal of Montenegro's statehood.
In June 2006, Đukanović appointed himself as the Montenegrin Minister of Defense,<ref>[http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2006&mm=06&dd=20&nav_id=201967&nav_category=167 B92 - Vesti - Milo Đukanović ministar odbrane - Internet, Radio i TV stanica; najnovije vesti iz Srbije<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> a decision that led to a chorus of criticism from different NGOs, aside from the fact alone that this was [[Constitution of Montenegro|unconstitutional]] and deemed [[Law|illegal]], as well as judged as another step of Milo's autocracy. They point to a clear breach of Montenegrin constitution and a conflict of interest law that both prohibit members of government from performing multiple public duties. In addition to his PM, and now Minister of Defense duties, Đukanović earlier named himself as the president of National Council for Sustainable Growth, member of the Council for European Integration, and the president of Agency for Promotion of Foreign Investment's managing board.<small>[http://www.mtsmondo.com/news/vesti/story.php?vest=21651]</small>
On [[3 October]] [[2006]], it was announced that Đukanović was stepping down as Prime Minister, despite the victory of his [[Coalition for a European Montenegro]] in the [[Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2006|September 2006 parliamentary election]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5402382.stm "Veteran Montenegro PM 'to quit'"], BBC News, 3 October 2006.</ref> although he would remain leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists. On [[4 October]], he endorsed [[Željko Šturanović]] as his successor. The choice of Šturanović was considered a compromise between Đukanović and [[Svetozar Marović]], as Đukanović's first candidate was [[Igor Lukšić]], the Minister of Finance.
Đukanović formally ceased to be the Prime Minister on [[10 November]] [[2006]], as the new Government was elected by [[Parliament of Montenegro]]. He cited his reasons for stepping down as "being tired of politics", and wishing to try himself out as a businessman.
===DPS party president, businessman, and MP 2006-2008===
Đukanović served as a member of Parliament from October 2006 to February 2008.<ref name=Gov>[http://www.vlada.cg.yu/eng/premijer/vijesti.php?akcija=rubrika&rubrika=7 "Prime Minister Milo Đukanović - biography"], government website.</ref> He announced that he might be willing to run in the [[Montenegrin presidential election, 2008|April 2008 presidential election]] but eventually decided against it, allowing Vujanović to easily win a second term.
Đukanović headed the proclamation of the new [[Constitution of Montenegro]] on [[22 October]] [[2007]]. He has received support from almost all DPS municipal boards and committees. Upon pleas from the European Parliament to not run and wait for ongoing criminal investigations to be finished, Đukanović accused the EP of meddling in Montenegrin internal affairs.
Since 2006, Đukanović has opened five private businesses (the latest called Global Montenegro on February 25, 2008) and bought actions in [[Prva banka Crne Gore|his brother's bank]], altogether amassing property of millions of euros.[http://www.mtsmondo.com/news/vesti/text.php?vest=89631] His other four companies are: Universitas, Capital Invest, Primary Invest, and Select Investments.
===Third return to power as Prime Minister, 2008===
On [[February 20]] [[2008]], President Vujanović nominated Đukanović as Prime Minister after Šturanović resigned due to illness.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/20/europe/EU-POL-Montenegro-Prime-Minister.php "Montenegro's president nominates Đukanović to again become premier"], Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), 20 February 2008.</ref> He was accordingly elected as Prime Minister on [[February 29]] [[2008]].<ref name=Gov/>
==Ongoing criminal investigation in Italy==
For years Milo Đukanović has been accused of personal and political ties to wide spread tobacco smuggling in Montenegro throughout the 1990s.
According to a 240-page internal report compiled in 1997 by the [[Guardia di Finanza]] (Italian Border/Customs Police and Financial Police, is also a Military Police Corp), Montenegro was part of smuggling hierarchy divided among various crime families connected to [[Sicilian Mafia#The Mafia in Sicily|Sicilian mafia]], [[Camorra]] and [[Sacra corona unita]] organized crime syndicates. The report claimed that tobacco smuggling in Europe caused an estimated $700 million annually in losses to governments and legitimate merchants.[http://www.publicintegrity.org/report.aspx?aid=354&sid=100]
Various reports implicate Đukanović in doing business with different Mafia bosses like [[Napoli|Neapolitan]] [[Camorra]]'s [[Ciro Mazzarella]] who was arrested in 1993 in [[Lugano]].[http://www.publicintegrity.org/report.aspx?aid=354&sid=100]
Since then, other mafia figures like Francesco Prudentino, Gerardo Cuomo, Filippo Messina, etc. connected to the highest echelons of Italian organized crime operated out of Montenegro closely tied to Đukanović's government.[http://www.publicintegrity.org/report.aspx?aid=354&sid=100]
In 1996, Italy's Anti-mafia Investigative Agency taped a telephone conversation between Cuomo and Santo Vantaggiato, a fugitive from Italian law hiding in Montenegro. The two men were discussing the election in Montenegro, and Cuomo boasted that he was close to senior Montenegrin politicians. He mentioned that if his "friends" got in, he would be "much stronger." Vantaggiato was murdered in Montenegro two years later in a mafia war.[http://www.publicintegrity.org/report.aspx?aid=354&sid=100]
In July 2003, the prosecutor's office in [[Napoli|Naples]] named Đukanović as a linchpin in the illicit trade which used Montenegro as a transit point for smuggling millions of cigarettes across the [[Adriatic sea]] into [[Italy]] and into the hands of the Italian mafia for distribution across the EU.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,995895,00.html The Guardian: Montenegrin PM accused of link with tobacco racket], from [[July 11]], [[2003]]. URL accessed on [[June 24]], [[2006]]</ref>
Among other things, the court mentioned that Đukanović showed "ruthlessness and insidiousness" in his efforts to destroy evidence and sabotage the investigation.
This detail about Đukanović's motives was absent from most news reports about the referendum. The international media has largely ignored other scandals that may be related to Đukanović, such as the murder of the founder and chief editor of Montenegro's only opposition newspaper, [[Dan]], a new [[white slavery]] scandal involving members of Đukanović government, and Đukanović’s alleged association with gangster and former jean forger [[Stanko Subotic Cane]]. The only scandal mentioned at all was his vote-buying scheme but even that was described in some reports as the usual so-called Serbian lie.
===Warrant for his arrest issued in Italy===
On [[April 16]], [[2003]], the [[Judge for Preliminary Inquiries]] in [[Naples]] rejected the [[Anti-Mafia Bureau]]'s request for a warrant for Đukanović's arrest, claiming him to be [[Diplomatic immunity|immune]] from arrest as prime minister of [[Montenegro]]. The bureau had been investigating him for a while<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2015413.stm BBC News: Montenegrin leader 'linked to mafia'], from [[May 29]], [[2002]]. URL accessed on [[June 15]], [[2006]]</ref><ref name="mlinks">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2022998.stm BBC News: Montenegro leader denies Mafia links], from [[June 3]], [[2002]]. URL accessed on [[June 15]], [[2006]]</ref> and now charged him with "crimes of the Mafia type"<small>[http://emperors-clothes.com/yr/ansa070105.htm]</small> and had further requested his arrest as a precautionary measure; to prevent him from committing more crimes and destroying evidence as the investigation continued.
The case was appealed to the [[Naples Court of Review]], which ruled Đukanović's favor. Besides claiming his immunity, he was described as not socially dangerous as well as ignorant that he was committing crimes.<ref name=ANSA>{{cite web|url=http://www.ansa.it/balcani/dossier/20050107133733216818.html|title=CONTRABBANDO: ĐUKANOVIĆ; CASSAZIONE, CAPACE DI CRIMINI|language=Italian|publisher=[http://www.ansa.it ANSA.IT]|date=[[2005-07-01]]|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref>
The case was then once again appealed, to the [[Court of Cassation (Italy)|Court of Cassation]] (Corte di Cassazione). On [[December 28]], [[2004]], this court ruled in favor of the Anti-Mafia Bureau. It argued that as Montenegro was not a [[sovereignty|sovereign]] state, Đukanović had no diplomatic immunity. The court further ruled that he should be arrested to prevent further crimes and destroyed evidence. The court also added that if Đukanović was unaware of the gravity of his crimes, then this was nothing but a further argument for arresting him.<ref name=ANSA/><ref name="mlinks" />
In mid-2005, [[Robert Amoroso]], a legal advisor in the [[Italian Foreign Ministry]], confirmed the warrant for Đukanović's arrest when stating that "Đukanović will be arrested if he ever sets foot in Italy."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/mediamonitor/article_1013991.php/Montenegrin_premier_to_be_arrested_if_he_enters_Italy_-_Italian_official|title=Montenegrin premier to be arrested if he enters Italy - Italian official|date=[[2006-06-15]]|publisher=[http://news.monstersandcritics.com Monsters and Critics.com]|accessdate=2006-09-11}}</ref>
Since the independence referendum in Montenegro, Đukanović has openly used the change in Montenegro's status to have the warrant dropped. Only one day after the referendum, his lawyer, [[Enrico Tuccillo]], has proclaimed that "The referendum has confirmed the premise of the Prime Minister, Milo Đukanović, about the sovereignty of Montenegro: therefore no doubt can now remain about the immunity, granted to heads of state and of government, which Đukanović enjoyed and enjoys."[http://www.avvocatieuropei.com/ANSAComunicatoMONTENEGRO.htm][http://emperors-clothes.com/yr/ansa220506.htm]
=== 2007 ===
On [[22 June]] [[2007]] the Italian [[ANSA (news agency)|ANSA]] agency from [[Bari]] announced the end of an investigation regarding Milo Đukanović, who was head of an ''..international mafia group..'' from 1997 to 2000 that conducted smuggling of cigarettes between Montenegro and the Italian province of [[Puglia]], earning tens of millions of euros. The money was illegally transferred across Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Montenegro. ANSA has informed Đukanović and other notable DPS officials like ex-Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister [[Miroslav Ivanišević]], and 13 other close associates from Montenegrin public life that the preliminary results of the investigation regarding their alleged criminal acts in the period between 1994 and 2002 are published. The investigation determined that they allegedly formed a very influential Montenegrin mafia. They were given 20 days to request hearing or present defense, after which time period a legal process against them could be started.
Milo Đukanović is charged for being the [[boss]] of a [[mafia|mafia organization]] that was close with the domestic Italian mafia in Puglia as well as the Italian mafia in Switzerland, with assistance from a Serbian tycoon, [[Stanko Subotić Cane]]. While Cane invested substantial amounts of money in the Swiss banks, the Montenegrin government under Milo's premiership supplied three private planes, which were used for illegally transporting the money across Montenegro into Cyprus. The money, then invested in Cyprotian banks, was used for funding the criminal operations, and then transferred to Lichtenstein bank accounts. Đukanović is charged for allowing the Italian Swiss mafia boss transport a thousand tons of cigarettes each month, that were covertly smuggled across the Adriatic sea to the Italian coastline subsequently. One of the other things Milo is charged for is helping the illegal sale of the Zetatrans and for ordering the Montenegrin police to assist the Italian-Montenegrin smugglers in the ports of [[Zelenika]] and [[Bar, Montenegro|Bar]].
Another charged person is Dušanka Pešić-Jeknić, the former Montenegrin trade representative in Italy. Allegedly, she was a mediator between the Italian mafia and the Montenegrin mafia at the top of Montenegro's government headed by Milo Đukanović himself, as well as other notable DPS officials, Branko Vujošević and Veselin Barović. She was in charge of transferring the money to the Montenegrin government paid to her directly by the Italian mobsters. In 2001, by the order of Milo Đukanović, she forged papers and documentation for the major Italian mafia boss Del Torre, smuggling him to Montenegro where he enjoyed Milo's protection from imminent arrest by the Italian authorities. Some time before 1999, the Montenegrin mafia with Milo at the top and the Pulian mafia have signed a contract splitting the management and sharing the loot from the smuggling. Milo's representative at the signing was [[Andrija Drašković]], one of the biggest mafia bosses in former Yugoslavia and another close associate of Milo. Andrija was recently arrested in [[Germany]] and transferred into Italy. In exchange for offering a save haven to Italian mobsters, Milo Đukanović took charge over the [[heroin]] and [[cocaine]] monopoly.
Branislav Mićunović is accused of helping the Italian mobsters hide in Montenegro; he allegedly received a share of the cigarette smuggling profits as a payment.
=== 2008 ===
On March 27 2008 Đukanović made a low profile visit to the prosecutor's office in Bari. He was interrogated for 6.5 hours and answered to about 80 prosecutor's questions regarding the accusations against him. His subordinates in the government of Montenegro later claimed that this interrogation was voluntary, but there were many public comments that Đukanović did this because otherwise he would face serious consequences, including an international arrest warrant.
==Trivia==
* He is married to Lidija Đukanović (nee Kuč). They have a son, Blažo, born in 1988
* He is also over 190cm tall former basketball player, and as such he is among the tallest world statesmen.
* He was nicknamed "Britva", which means [[straight razor]].
* Milo Đukanović is an Honorary Member of [http://www.raoulwallenberg.net The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation]
{{Commons|Milo Đukanović}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{start box}}
{{s-off}}
{{Succession box
| title = Secretary of the Presidency of the [[League of Communists of Montenegro]]
| before = ?
| after = '''post abolished
| years = 1989 – 1991
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Prime Minister of Montenegro]]
| before = [[Radoje Kontić]]<br><small>[[Socialist Republic of Montenegro|SR Montenegro]]</small>
| after = [[Filip Vujanović]]
| years = 1991 – 1998
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[President of Montenegro]]
| before = [[Momir Bulatović]]
| after = [[Filip Vujanović]]
| years = 1998 – 2002
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Prime Minister of Montenegro]]
| before = [[Dragan Đurović]]<br><small>Acting</small>
| after = [[Željko Šturanović]]
| years = 2003 – 2006
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Government of Montenegro|Minister of Defence of Montenegro]]<br><small>Acting</small>
| before = [[Zoran Stanković]]<br><small>[[Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro|Serbia and Montenegro]]</small>
| after = [[Boro Vučinić]]
| years = 2006
}}
{{Incumbent succession box
| title = [[Prime Minister of Montenegro]]
| before = [[Željko Šturanović]]
| start = 2008
}}
{{end box}}
{{MontePres}}
{{MontePM}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dukanovic, Milo}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Montenegrin politicians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Montenegro]]
[[Category:People from Nikšić]]
[[Category:Yugoslav communists]]
[[cs:Milo Đukanović]]
[[de:Milo Đukanović]]
[[el:Μίλο Τζουκάνοβιτς]]
[[es:Milo Đukanović]]
[[eo:Milo Đukanović]]
[[fr:Milo Đukanović]]
[[hr:Milo Đukanović]]
[[id:Milo Đukanović]]
[[it:Milo Đukanović]]
[[he:מילו ג'וקאנוביץ']]
[[lt:Milas Džiukanovičius]]
[[ms:Milo Đukanović]]
[[nl:Milo Đukanović]]
[[no:Milo Đukanović]]
[[nn:Milo Đukanović]]
[[oc:Milo Đukanović]]
[[pl:Milo Đukanović]]
[[pt:Milo Đukanović]]
[[ru:Джуканович, Мило]]
[[sr:Мило Ђукановић]]
[[sh:Milo Đukanović]]
[[fi:Milo Đukanović]]
[[sv:Milo Đukanović]]
[[zh:米洛·久卡諾維奇]]