Miomir Žužul
Encyclopedia
Miomir Žužul is a Croatia
n diplomat and politician.
at the University of Zagreb
in 1987 as well as a doctorate in conflict management
at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
. In 1990 he became a full professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
in Zagreb.
He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
.
. He left the party in 1987 and, with the fall of communism, entered the new dominant right wing party of Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Žužul was previously the foreign minister
of Croatia (2003–2005), Croatian ambassador to the United States
(1996–2000), Croatian deputy foreign minister (1992–1993) and Croatian ambassador to the United Nations
(1993–1996). Žužul was involved in Washington Agreement
(1994) and Dayton Agreement
(1995) as a member of the Croatian negotiating team.
During his early diplomatic career, Žužul befriended many important people in American political and business circles. He has often been perceived as one of the more pro-American politicians in Croatia. In early 2000s, he was one of the most trusted allies of Ivo Sanader
in his struggle for the leadership of HDZ
.
He was named the new foreign minister in the Ivo Sanader government in December 2003.
In 2004 various Croatian media began to publish details of alleged corruption scandals involving Žužul. Although Žužul denied those charges, even some of Sanader's allies in Sabor expressed desire to have him removed. Sanader resisted this pressure and had Žužul keep his post. The Croatian Parliament cleared Žužul of the charges brought against him, and the majority of the media outlets that initially reported corruption allegations against Žužul have retracted their stories. Court cases against the rest are pending.
However, in January 2005, Žužul announced his resignation because he did not want to pose a burden for the government, and formally left his post in February. Sanader's candidate Jadranka Kosor
during presidential elections
commented that she expected the resignation to come.
On 17 August 2007, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, appointed Žužul, "to be his personal representative in a mission to Georgia
on (a) missile incident
that took place on 6 August," alleged to be a Russian missile strike on Georgian territory.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n diplomat and politician.
Education
Žužul obtained a doctorate in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
in 1987 as well as a doctorate in conflict management
Conflict management
Conflict management involves implementing strategies to limit the negative aspects of conflict and to increase the positive aspects of conflict at a level equal to or higher than where the conflict is taking place. Furthermore, the aim of conflict management is to enhance learning and group outcomes...
at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 1990 he became a full professor at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences or the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb is one of the top faculties of the University of Zagreb.-History:...
in Zagreb.
He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy is an international, not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Berlin. Founded in 1999 by Mark Donfried, its activities focus on promoting and developing the field of cultural diplomacy by conducting research, initiatives and programs, holding...
.
Politics
Žužul started his political career as a member of Communist party of the Socialist Republic of CroatiaSocialist Republic of Croatia
Socialist Republic of Croatia was a sovereign constituent country of the second Yugoslavia. It came to existence during World War II, becoming a socialist state after the war, and was also renamed four times in its existence . It was the second largest republic in Yugoslavia by territory and...
. He left the party in 1987 and, with the fall of communism, entered the new dominant right wing party of Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Žužul was previously the foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Croatia (2003–2005), Croatian ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1996–2000), Croatian deputy foreign minister (1992–1993) and Croatian ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(1993–1996). Žužul was involved in Washington Agreement
Washington Agreement
The Washington Agreement was a ceasefire agreement between the warring Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed in Washington on 18 March 1994 and Vienna. It was signed by Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdžić, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granić and...
(1994) and Dayton Agreement
Dayton Agreement
The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Agreement, Dayton Accords, Paris Protocol or Dayton-Paris Agreement, is the peace agreement reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in November 1995, and formally signed in Paris on...
(1995) as a member of the Croatian negotiating team.
During his early diplomatic career, Žužul befriended many important people in American political and business circles. He has often been perceived as one of the more pro-American politicians in Croatia. In early 2000s, he was one of the most trusted allies of Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader
Ivo Sanader |Split]]) is a Croatian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Croatia from 2003 to 2009.Sanader obtained his education in comparative literature in Austria, where he also later worked in the 1980s. He worked as a journalist, in marketing, publishing and also as a private...
in his struggle for the leadership of HDZ
Croatian Democratic Union
The Croatian Democratic Union is the main center-right political party in Croatia. It is the biggest and strongest individual Croatian party since independence of Croatia. The Christian democratic HDZ governed Croatia from 1990 to 2000 and, in partial coalition, from 2003...
.
He was named the new foreign minister in the Ivo Sanader government in December 2003.
In 2004 various Croatian media began to publish details of alleged corruption scandals involving Žužul. Although Žužul denied those charges, even some of Sanader's allies in Sabor expressed desire to have him removed. Sanader resisted this pressure and had Žužul keep his post. The Croatian Parliament cleared Žužul of the charges brought against him, and the majority of the media outlets that initially reported corruption allegations against Žužul have retracted their stories. Court cases against the rest are pending.
However, in January 2005, Žužul announced his resignation because he did not want to pose a burden for the government, and formally left his post in February. Sanader's candidate Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor
Jadranka Kosor is a Croatian politician and former journalist. She is the current Prime Minister of Croatia, having taken office on July 6, 2009, following the sudden resignation of her predecessor Ivo Sanader. She is Croatia's first female Prime Minister since independence.-Early life:Jadranka...
during presidential elections
Croatian presidential election, 2005
The fourth presidential elections in Croatia took place in two rounds in January 2005.-Background:The State Elections Committee published a list of candidates on 15 December 2004. President Stjepan Mesić stood for re-election, and the governing HDZ nominated cabinet minister Jadranka Kosor...
commented that she expected the resignation to come.
On 17 August 2007, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, appointed Žužul, "to be his personal representative in a mission to Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
on (a) missile incident
2007 Georgia missile incident
The 2007 Georgia missile incident refers to the landing of a missile in the Georgian village of Tsitelubani in the Gori district near the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, some north-west of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on August 7, 2007...
that took place on 6 August," alleged to be a Russian missile strike on Georgian territory.