Dragiša Milović (; born 1957) is a Kosovo Serb politician. He was the mayor of Zvečan, a predominantly Serb community in the disputed territory of Kosovo, from 2002 to 2013, serving as a member of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). In 2021, he was re-elected to the same position as a candidate of the Serb List (SL).
The Serb List began a boycott of the Republic of Kosovo's political institutions in November 2022, and Milović submitted his resignation in Zvečan's assembly at that time."Gradonačelnici i odbornici opština na severu Kosova podneli ostavke", Radio Slobodna Evropa, 6 November 2022, accessed 26 July 2023.
Private career Milović is a medical doctor and orthopedic specialist. He is deputy director of Clinical Hospital Center Kosovska Mitrovica.Sandra Cvetković, "Stanovi i radna mesta u predizbornim temama ‘Srpske liste’", Radio Slobodna Evropa, 14 October 2021, accessed 25 January 2022. In August 2023, he said that new supplies of vital medicines had not been received in months due to the Priština government's ban on importing the goods."Milovic refutes Hovenier: We have not received medicines or medical supplies for months", Kosovo Online, 17 August 2023, accessed 18 September 2023.
Politician Serbian National Council and early UNMIK administration (1999–2001) Milović was a founding member of the Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija in January 1999 and was the first chair of its initiative committee. He said that the council had been formed from the dissatisfaction of Kosovo Serbs with the Serbian government's policies in the province. He was quoted as saying, "We Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija cannot be represented by the so-called Provisional Executive Council [set up by the Belgrade authorities] at the forthcoming [...] negotiations with the Albanians. It seems that the reason for setting it up was to once again surrender Serb land [...] without too much commotion. We do not accept any proposals which restrict the sovereignty and violate the territorial integrity of Serbia.""Kosovo Serbs set up national council, demand territorial reorganization," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European - Political, 17 January 1999 (Source: Text of report by the Belgrade-based independent Radio B92 on 16 January).
Serbia lost effective control over most of Kosovo following the 1998–99 Kosovo War, and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was set up as a temporary authority in the province. In 2000, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) organized local elections under the auspices of UNMIK; these were largely boycotted by the Serb community, whose leaders argued that the security situation would not allow Serbs to return to their homes. Acting as a spokesperson for Oliver Ivanović, Milović said that Serbs in northern Kosovo would "[would] not register or take part in the vote until Serbs start returning to Kosovo in bigger numbers."Robert H. Reid, "Serbs adamant in rejecting UN elections until Serbs allowed to return," Associated Press Newswires, 14 July 2000.
Milović was vice-president of the Zvečan municipal assembly at this time; the position was equivalent to deputy mayor."Mesta za sve u Zvečanu", Glas javnosti, 23 December 1999, accessed 25 January 2022. In June 2000, both he and Zvečan mayor Desimir Petković were removed from office due to their willingness to negotiate with UNMIK. By 2002, however, Milović had returned to office as deputy mayor."Rudari postali trgovci", Glas javnosti, 10 August 2002, accessed 25 January 2022. As an ally of Oliver Ivanović, he resigned from the Serbian National Council executive in June 2001 after Ivanović's removal."Koncepcijske razlike", Glas javnosti, 8 June 2001, accessed 25 January 2022.
Mayor of Zvečan (2002–13) The Kosovo Serb community generally participated in the 2002 local elections in northern Kosovo, except in Kosovska Mitrovica. Milović appeared in the lead position on the DSS's electoral list for Zvečan and was elected to the local assembly when the list won five out of seventeen seats.ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVENDE KOMUNALE 2002 – Fletëvotimet dhe listat e kandidatëve (Zvečan), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 24 January 2022.ZGJEDHJET PËR KUVENDE KOMUNALE 2002 – Rezultatet dhe Statistikat (Rezultatet e subjekteve sipas komunave), Central Election Commission, Republic of Kosovo, accessed 24 January 2022. No party won a clear victory, and the DSS was able to form a coalition government with Milović as mayor."Nema odluke o produženju mandata", Politika, 9 June 2008, accessed. 25 January 2022. In a meeting with UNMIK leader Michael Steiner shortly after his election, Milović said that the United Nations mission had failed in its goals. "Even after three and a half years there has been no mass return of Serbs," he said, "while there is no safety and freedom of movement for the remaining Serb population in the province.""Kosovo Serbs tell UN Security Council delegation UNMIK mission 'unsuccessful'," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 17 December 2002 (Source: Text of report in English by Yugoslav state news agency Tanjug).
In 2004, Milović said that his administration would not accommodate "destabilizing" actions, citing UNMIK's recent decision to turn over municipal police responsibilities to the Kosovo Police without local consultation or approval."Serbs in northern town threaten to halt UN transfer of powers to Kosovo police," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 1 December 2004 (Source: Text of report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 1 December). In August 2005, he said that parts of Zvečan were experiencing serious water shortages due to the decision of the Priština authorities to withhold necessary water supplies from Serb communities in the north."Water supply situation in northern Kosovo town 'dramatic' - local Serb official," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 3 August 2005 (Source: Excerpt from report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 3 August).
At a protest in early 2006, Milović said that "a settlement to the status of Kosovo must be arrived at through compromise, international law and the borders must be respected, there must be no winners and losers.""Kosovo Serbs stage peaceful protests to mark anniversary of Albanian violence," HINA, 17 March 2006. Later in the year, he welcomed the approval of a new Serbian constitution that recognized Kosovo and Metohija as an integral part of the country with significant autonomy."Kosovo Serb politicians hail new Serbian constitution, passers-by rejoice," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 31 October 2006 (Source: Text of report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 30 October).
The Serb community in northern Kosovo generally boycotted the 2007 Kosovan local elections, which took place against the backdrop of the province's drive for independence. Milović did not accept the elections as legitimate and was not a candidate. Like most Kosovo Serb politicians, he opposed Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008 and still considers Kosovo to be a province of Serbia.
The Serbian government organized its own local elections in Kosovo in 2008. Although not recognized internationally, the vote provided de facto legitimacy to the governing authorities in Zvečan and in the neighbouring municipalities of Leposavić, Zubin Potok, and northern Kosovska Mitrovica. The DSS actually finished second against the far-right Serbian Radical Party (SRS) in Zvečan, but Milović was able to form a new coalition government with smaller parties and continue in office as mayor.Информације о одржаним седницама 2008. године – 15. мај 2008. године, Republic Election Commission, Republic of Serbia, accessed 26 April 2017. The Government of Kosovo avoided a confrontation over the local government of Zvečan by formally extending Milović's mandate, a decision that he rejected as irrelevant. See "North Kosovo Serb mayors reject extension of mandate by government," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 7 July 2008 (Text of report by Kosovo-Albanian privately-owned newspaper Express, on 5 July)."Kosovo Serb mayor allows four Albanian families to resume homes reconstruction," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 9 September 2009 (Source: Text of report by public Radio-Television Kosovo TV on 9 September). The authorities in Priština later organized new local elections in 2009; as in 2007, these were generally boycotted by the Serb community and had no practical effect on the local government of Zvečan.
In June 2009, Milović took part in a protest against the introduction of new customs measures on Kosovo's northern border. He said that Serbs did not oppose paying taxes to Serbia's government but did not want their money to support the Priština authorities. He was quoted as saying, "We want to confirm that the blockade is not aimed at the police or KFOR, only against the customs and that should be clear to everyone.""Kosovo Serbs block road in protest over introduction of customs measures," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 25 June 2009 (Source: Text of report in English by Serbian pro-western Belgrade-based Radio B92 website, on 25 June).
Milović condemned an attack on an Albanian-owned bakery in Zvečan in 2010, saying, "the Albanians, citizens of our municipality, ten years since the arrival of the UN mission, have had no problems. We insist and urge the police to find those perpetrators.""Kosovo Serb mayor condemns arson attack against local Albanian-owned bakery," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European, 1 November 2010 (Source: Excerpt from report by Kosovska Mitrovica-based Serbian-language Kontakt Plus radio).
2011 North Kosovo Crisis In July 2011, Kosovo Police crossed into the predominantly Serb municipalities of northern Kosovo, without consulting either Serbia or KFOR/EULEX, in an attempt to assert control over several administrative border crossings. This action precipitated what became known as the North Kosovo crisis, in which members of northern Kosovo's Serb community restricted highway traffic with blockades. Milović was a leader of the community's actions, working alongside fellow mayors Slaviša Ristić of Zubin Potok, Branko Ninić of Leposavić, and Krstimir Pantić of northern Kosovska Mitrovica.