A Serbian diplomat and politician, Svilanović
previously served as Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental
Activities (2008-2012). In 2004, he became Chairman of Working Table I
(democratization and human rights) of the Stability Pact for South Eastern
Europe, where he served until the end of 2007. He was member of the Senior
Review Group of the Stability Pact, which proposed the transformation of the
Pact into the Regional Cooperation Council.
From 2000 to 2004, Svilanović was Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was renamed to
Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. Between 2000 and 2007, he was a Member of
Parliament. He holds a Ph.D. in law from the Union University in Belgrade, as
well as Masters and undergraduate law degrees from the University of Belgrade.
The new RCC
Secretary General looks forward to working with all the stakeholders in the RCC
area, including the media, in executing his new duties.
“Helping
prosperity and growth through regional action in South East Europe (SEE), while
supporting European and Euro-Atlantic integration, is what the Regional Cooperation
Council is all about and what I will focus on”, said Svilanović.
“As many of the challenges in the region
refer to combating the consequences of the economic crisis, organized crime and
corruption, a top priority of the RCC will be the development of an SEE 2020
strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the region, with
concrete goals of improving trade, investments, education and governance by
2020.”
Svilanović also announced a continued
RCC engagement in the areas of infrastructure, energy, security, culture,
parliamentary cooperation and media development.
“I
see our region as a place of dialogue, freedom and mobility, rich in cultural
heritage, where each person feels safe and protected by the rule of law. Our
work will reflect the readiness and the ability of the people of South East
Europe to take responsibility for their future, and to create conditions for an
overall progress in a climate of tolerance and cooperation.”
Goran
Svilanović took office as the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation
Council on 1 January 2013, following the appointment by the South-East European
Cooperation Process (SEECP) Foreign Ministers in Belgrade on 14 June 2012.
In this post, Svilanović succeeded Hido Bičević, the first
RCC Secretary General, who held the post for five years, in two consecutive
mandates (2008-2012).
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