VZCZCXRO3645
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPOD #0032/01 0361133
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051133Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1142
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 1230
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 PODGORICA 000032 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR MW
SUBJECT: NEW DPS GOVERNMENT LIKELY TO LOOK A LOT LIKE OLD DPS 
GOVERNMENT 
 
REF: PODGORICA 23 
 
PODGORICA 00000032  001.2 OF 004 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: With pre-term parliamentary elections set for 
March 29 (reftel) and Prime Minister Djukanovic's Democratic 
Party of Socialists (DPS) the favorite to return to power, key 
cabinet members are already jostling for a spot in the next 
government.  While there is plenty of speculation that 
Djukanovic is grooming newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister 
Luksic to replace him, a DPS victory would likely see many of 
the same faces continue in power.  This message, the first in a 
series on the upcoming parliamentary elections, provides 
biographic details on the key figures in the DPS. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) Following the Parliament's January 26 vote to curtail 
its mandate, President Vujanovic announced that new elections 
will be held March 29 (reftel).  The heavy favorite remains the 
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) - Social Democratic Party 
(SDP) coalition.  Should this coalition return to power, we 
expect a number of key figures from both parties to reenter the 
new government; this cable takes a look at some of the top 
players in the DPS, the senior coalition partner. 
 
 
 
THE ONE TO WATCH? 
 
----------------- 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) The promotion of Finance Minister Igor Luksic to Deputy 
Prime Minister on December 26, 2008 has fueled widespread 
speculation that Djukanovic is positioning Luksic to succeed him 
as the next Prime Minister.  The youthful Luksic, long a 
Djukanovic favorite, has been Minister of Finance since 2004 and 
a member of the DPS presidency since 2000. Luksic was rumored to 
be a leading candidate for the PM slot in 2006, but reportedly 
lost out because of concerns regarding his relative inexperience 
and local media speculation that he had strong ties to Russia. 
(Note: Instead another DPS presidency member, Zeljko Sturanovic, 
untouched by the corruption charges that have plagued many DPS 
leaders, was made PM in 2006; he stepped down for health reason 
is February 2008. End Note.) 
 
 
 
¶4. (U) Luksic was born in 1976 in Bar, Montenegro.  He graduated 
from the Faculty of Economics in Podgorica in 1998 and earned a 
Master's Degree from the same school in 2002. Luksic attended 
various international specialization courses, including one at 
the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna in 1999. In his short career, 
Luksic served as Secretary of the MFA, and in 2003 as public 
relations advisor to Djukanovic (who was also PM at the time), 
who helped Luksic become Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of 
Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. Luksic also served two terms as 
an MP in Montenegro's Parliament. He has published several 
professional papers and books as well as a book of poetry and 
prose. He is married and has no children, and speaks excellent 
English, as well as French and Italian. 
 
 
 
THE DPS INNER CIRCLE 
 
-------------------- 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) The following individuals are considered to be part of 
the DPS inner circle, and will be key decision makers whether 
they stay in government or not: 
 
 
 
--Milan Rocen, Minister of Foreign Affairs.  Rocen was born on 
November 23, 1950 in Zabljak, Montenegro.  He graduated from the 
Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade and was a journalist 
for the magazine "Ekonomska Politika" in Belgrade (1976-79).  In 
the 1980s he worked his way up in the Central Committee of the 
League of Communists of Montenegro, first in the Information and 
Propaganda Department(1979-82) and then as Political Chief of 
Staff to the Central Committee President (1982-88). Rocen was 
Montenegro's Deputy Foreign Minister (1988-92) before serving as 
Minister Counselor (1992-97) and Charge d'Affaires (1993-94) at 
the Yugoslav Embassy in Moscow.  From 1997-2003, Rocen was 
Djukanovic's Foreign Policy Advisor and then Chief Political 
Advisor before returning to Moscow as Ambassador of Serbia and 
Montenegro (2003-2006). Rocen and his wife, Stana, have one son, 
Filip.  He speaks Russian fluently, but little English. 
 
 
PODGORICA 00000032  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
 
 
-- Branimir Gvozdenovic, Minister for Economic Development. 
Gvozdenovic, a member of the DPS presidency, became Minister in 
November 2006 after serving as Deputy Prime Minister for 
Economic Policy and Development from 2003 to 2006. He was born 
in 1961 in Bar and graduated from the Electro-Technical Faculty 
in Podgorica. Utilizing his IT skills, Gvozdenovic then worked 
his way up in the government, first as a programmer for the 
Information Committee (1986-98), then as Advisor for Development 
of Information System in the Secretariat for Development 
(1989-90), Senior Adviser for Informatics in the Development 
Bureau (1990-1991), Assistant Director of the Republican 
Development Bureau (1991-95), and Assistant Secretary of the 
Republican Secretariat for Development (1995-99).  In 1999, 
Gvozdenovic became Director of Montenegro's postal service, and 
in 2002 he served as Acting Minister of Maritime Affairs.  From 
2002-2003 he was Mayor of Bar Municipality and from 2002-2005 he 
was President of the Board of Directors of Montenegro's Electric 
Power Company. In 2003 he served as Acting Minister of Tourism. 
Gvozdenovic is married and has two children.  He speaks some 
English, but is uncomfortable using it in official meetings. 
 
 
 
-- Milutin Simovic, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water 
Management.  A member of the DPS presidency and Agriculture 
Minister since 1998, Simovic has a strong academic and 
professional background in agriculture. He was born on December 
29, 1961 in Niksic, and graduated from the Agricultural Faculty 
in Novi Sad, Serbia, where he obtained a Master's Degree in 
¶1991. In 1986 he began working at the Agricultural Institute in 
Podgorica, where he was promoted to Science Assistant in 1990, 
and Senior Researcher in 1991. Simovic is a member of the 
Society of Agricultural Engineers and Technicians of Montenegro, 
and has published scientific papers and attended several expert 
courses in Holland.  He is married and has two children.  He 
does not speak English. 
 
 
 
-- Boro Vucinic, Minister of Defense. Vucinic became Minister in 
November 2006 despite having no defense or military related 
experience.  A long-standing DPS member, he served as Minister 
for Environment and Urban Planning in the previous cabinet and 
also was a member of the DPS presidency until 2007.  (Note: 
Vucinic was not reelected to the presidency at the DPS's May 
2007 congress; this was reportedly at his own request, and he 
continues to maintain close ties to the DPS leadership.  End 
Note.) 
 
 
 
-- Vucinic was born in 1954 in Podgorica. He graduated from the 
Faculty of Law in Podgorica in 1978 and received an MA from the 
same university in 2005.  Vucinic started his career at the 
Titograd Civil Engineering Organization (a building company) and 
then worked for Podgorica municipal bodies including as head of 
administration of public revenues and as Deputy Mayor of 
Podgorica Municipality.  He also served as a councilor in the 
Podgorica municipal assembly and as an MP in the Parliament of 
Montenegro, where he served on committees dealing with 
legislation and the constitutional charter of Serbia and 
Montenegro.  Vucinic also has led various sports committees; he 
was president of the Target Shooting Association of Yugoslavia, 
first president of the Montenegrin Olympic committee, and vice 
president of Yugoslav Olympic Committee.  He is married and has 
four children.  He has been studying English and now has basic 
conversational skills but good comprehension. 
 
 
 
-- Miodrag Radunovic, Minister of Health, Labor, and Social 
Welfare.  Minister since November 2006, Radunovic is also a 
member of the DPS presidency.  Radunovic was born on October 9, 
1959 in Berane, Montenegro.  He attended elementary and 
secondary school in Berane and graduated from the Medical 
Faculty in Nis, Serbia.  Radunovic specialized in general 
surgery at the Medical Faculty in Belgrade and has attended 
surgical training in both Serbia and Montenegro.  He worked at 
the health care center in Berane (1982-1984) and in the surgical 
department of the Berane General Hospital (1984-1997).  From 
1998-2003 he was Director of the Public Health Institution at 
the General Hospital in Berane.  From 2004-2006 Radunovic worked 
in surgery clinics at the Clinical Center of Podgorica. 
Radunovic has participated in international conventions on 
surgery and SFRY surgical congresses. He is married and has one 
child. He speaks English and German. 
 
 
 
 
PODGORICA 00000032  003.2 OF 004 
 
 
-- Suad Numanovic, Minister without Portfolio.  Numanovic, 
Minister since 2003, is arguably the DPS's most prominent Muslim 
leader, with strong ties to northern Montenegro.   Numanovic was 
born in 1960 in Bijelo Polje (northern Montenegro) and graduated 
from the Faculty of Medicine there.  Numanovic, who specializes 
in internal medicine, worked at the hospital in Bijelo Polje and 
was Director of the medical center in Bijelo Polje from 
2001-2003.  He has served as a president of the DPS Bijelo Polje 
municipal board, and also served as President of the Government 
Commissions for Housing Issues, the Government Personal 
Commission, and the Government Commission for Natural Hazards 
Damage Assessment.  He is married and has four children; he does 
not speak English. 
 
 
 
-- Svetozar Marovic, DPS Vice President. A DPS insider and 
Djukanovic confidant, Marovic has concentrated on party business 
(and his own personal business interests) since September 2006, 
when he resigned from his seat in Parliament. He had served as 
the first and last President of the State Union of Serbia and 
Montenegro from March 2003 until Montenegro's independence 
referendum in May 2006.  Since leaving the government, Marovic 
has become a major player in Montenegro's rapidly developing 
economy, including in the real estate sector in Budva. Recently 
he has been taking a more public role in the DPS, and some 
pundits speculate that he may be looking to return to the 
government after the elections. 
 
 
 
-- Marovic was born in Kotor in 1955, but grew up in Budva and 
considers Budva his hometown.  He graduated from the Faculty of 
Law in Podgorica and has practiced law in Budva.  He began his 
political career early, serving in numerous local and state 
level government positions, including as President of the 
Alliance of Socialist Youth Budva and as President of the 
Socialist Youth Alliance of Montenegro.  Marovic considers 
himself a philosopher and has written several books widely 
published in Serbia and Montenegro.  He and his wife Djana have 
two children, Milos and Milena.  Marovic speaks English, 
Italian, and Russian. 
 
 
 
THE TECHNOCRATS 
 
--------------- 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) The following individuals are DPS members, not in the 
DPS leadership, who have proven themselves to be indispensable 
to the work of the current government. It is likely that they 
will find a place in the next government: 
 
 
 
-- Gordana Djurovic, Deputy Prime Minister for European 
Integration.  Appointed in November 2006, Djurovic is one of the 
hardest working members of the government.  She heads the task 
force which oversees the implementation of the GoM's Action Plan 
to combat organized crime and corruption and has spearheaded the 
GoM's efforts to join the WTO, as well as the EU. Djurovic was 
previously Minister for International Economic Relations and 
European Integration of Montenegro from 2003 to 2006. She was 
born in Novi Knezevac (Vojvodina, Serbia) in 1964, where she 
attended primary school. She graduated from the Secondary School 
of Economics in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, in 1982, and in 1986 
from the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade.  Djurovic received 
her Master's Degree in 1991 from the Faculty of Economics in 
Podgorica in comparative analysis of modern economic systems, 
and earned a PhD from the same faculty in the field of economic 
development planning in transition countries. 
 
 
 
-- Djurovic was associate vice-dean for scientific research at 
the Faculty of Economics in Podgorica (1998-2000), and Head of 
the Department of Economic Policy of the same faculty. She is 
currently a professor at the Faculty, teaching undergraduate 
courses in economic development, international economic 
relations, and regional economy.  Djurovic also is head of 
postgraduate studies in European economic integration and 
teaches the economics of the EU and enlargement policy.  She is 
a member of the DPS, but tells us that she prefers to avoid 
"politics."  She is married and has two sons.  Djurovic speaks 
excellent English. 
 
 
 
 
PODGORICA 00000032  004.2 OF 004 
 
 
-- Predrag Nenezic, Minister of Tourism and Environmental 
Protection.  Nenezic was appointed Minister in November 2006, as 
after having been Minister of Tourism since 2001. He was born in 
1970 in Cetinje and was raised in Kotor.  He attended primary 
and secondary schools in Frankfurt, Germany, where his father 
represented a Montenegrin Bank.  After returning to Montenegro, 
Predrag Nenezic worked as a tour guide and graduated from the 
Faculty of Economics in Podgorica in 1994. In 1995, he joined 
the Agency for Economic Restructuring and was promoted to 
Manager of the Privatization Department of the Government 
Development Fund. In 1999, he was appointed Advisor to the Prime 
Minister for International Economic Affairs. 
 
 
 
-- Since 2002, Nenezic has chaired the Tender Commission for 
Privatization of Hotel and Tourism Assets. He also has served on 
the Board of Montenegro Airlines and as Chairman of the Board of 
the Public Coastal Area Management Company. He has twice been 
elected to the Parliament.  Nenezic currently is pursuing post 
graduate studies in management and international relations.  He 
is unmarried, and is fluent in English and German. 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
------- 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) The DPS insiders in the current cabinet are likely to 
return in a future government, though possibly with different 
titles.  The most important position -  Prime Minister - may be 
up for grabs. Several DPS insiders claim that Djukanovic plans 
to step out of the political spotlight - again - following the 
election. However others in the party say this is unlikely, or 
that if Djukanovic does step down, he is more likely to do so 
mid-term. Should Djukanovic step down, many of our contacts 
believe Luksic is the most likely successor.  A wildcard could 
be Marovic, a heavy-hitter with a serious political resume. End 
comment. 
MOORE