View source for Vuk Jeremić

{{Short description|Serbian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Vuk Jeremić
| image               = Vuk Jeremić 2020 (cropped).png
| caption             = Jeremić in 2020
| office              = [[President of the United Nations General Assembly]]
| term_start          = 18 September 2012
| term_end            = 17 September 2013
| predecessor         = [[Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser]]
| successor           = [[John William Ashe]]
| office1             = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Serbia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| primeminister1      = [[Vojislav Koštunica]]<br />[[Mirko Cvetković]]
| term_start1         = 15 May 2007
| term_end1           = 27 July 2012
| predecessor1        = [[Vuk Drašković]]
| successor1          = [[Ivan Mrkić]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1975|7|3|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Belgrade]], [[Socialist Republic of Serbia|SR Serbia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (Serbia)|DS]] (2000–2013)<br />[[People's Party (Serbia, 2017)|Narodna]] (2017–present)
| parents             = {{plainlist|
*Mihajlo Jeremić
*Sena Buljubašić}}
| relatives           = [[Pozderac family]]
| spouse              = Nataša Lekić
| children            = 1
| alma_mater          = [[Queens' College, Cambridge]]<br />[[University of London]]<br />[[Harvard University]]
| signature           = Vuk Jeremić's signature.svg
| native_name_lang    = sr
| native_name         = {{nobold|Вук Јеремић}}
}}
'''Vuk Jeremić''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Вук Јеремић}}, {{IPA|sh|ʋûːk jěremitɕ|pron}}; born 3 July 1975) is a Serbian politician and diplomat who served as the [[president of the United Nations General Assembly]] from 2012 to 2013 and as the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Serbia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia]] from 2007 to 2012.

In the early 1990s, Jeremić and his parents were forced to leave Yugoslavia after falling out with the country's [[communism|communist]] government. Jeremić graduated from the [[University of Cambridge]] and [[Harvard University]] in 1998 and 2003, respectively, and was active in several pro-democracy student movements during the 1990s. In the early 2000s, he joined what ''[[The New York Times]]'' deemed Serbia's "most westward-leaning [[Government of Serbia|government]]" as an advisor to [[President of Serbia|President]] [[Boris Tadić]]. In May 2007, Jeremić was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his tenure, he spearheaded Serbia's fervent opposition to [[Kosovo]]'s [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|unilateral secession]], the Serbian authorities arrested several [[war crime]]s suspects and extradited them to the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] in [[The Hague]], and there was a significant improvement in relations between Serbia and the West. In 2009, the [[European Union]] lifted all [[visa (document)|visa]] restrictions on citizens of Serbia, and in 2012, declared the country a [[Future enlargement of the European Union|candidate]] for membership.

Jeremić is the youngest person ever to have served as [[President of the United Nations General Assembly]]. His tenure saw [[Palestine]] [[United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19|granted]] non-member observer status in the General Assembly, the General Assembly's adoption of the [[Arms Trade Treaty]] (ATT), which aimed to regulate international [[conventional weapon]]s commerce, and the proclamation of 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Jeremić describes himself as a "fervent, pro-European politician".<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|author=Nicholas Kulish|work=The New York Times|title=Recasting Serbia's Image, Starting With a Fresh Face|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/world/europe/16jeremic.html?_r=0|date=15 January 2010|access-date=29 April 2015}}</ref> He is the current president of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) and editor-in-chief of ''Horizons'', an English-language global public policy magazine. Jeremić was [[United Nations Secretary-General selection, 2016|a candidate]] in the race to succeed [[Ban Ki-moon]] as United Nations Secretary-General in 2016, finishing second overall, behind eventual winner [[António Guterres]]. He unsuccessfully ran in the 2017 Serbian [[2017 Serbian presidential election|presidential election]] as an independent candidate. In October 2017, he founded the [[People's Party (Serbia, 2017)|People's Party]].

==Early life==
===Family===
Vuk Jeremić was born in [[Belgrade]] on 3 July 1975.<ref name="B92">{{cite news|publisher=B92|title=Više od polovine kandidata za genseka UN iz eks-Ju|language=sr|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2016&mm=04&dd=13&nav_category=11&nav_id=1119313|date=13 April 2016|access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Jeremić's parents are Sena ({{nee|Buljubašić}}) and Mihajlo Jeremić. His father is an [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] [[Serbs|Serb]] from Belgrade and his mother is a [[Islam in Bosnia and Herzegovina|Muslim]] [[Bosniaks|Bosniak]] whose ancestors hailed from the northwestern [[Bosnia (region)|Bosnian]] town of [[Cazin]].<ref name="Index.hr">{{cite news|publisher=Index.hr|title=Najvažniji politički lideri regije porijeklom su iz BiH: Milanović, Bandić, Jeremić, Tadić...|language=hr|url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/najvazniji-politicki-lideri-regije-porijeklom-su-iz-bih-milanovic-bandic-jeremic-tadic-vucic/689723.aspx|date=18 July 2013|access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> During the 1980s, Jeremić's father was the CEO of [[Naftna Industrija Srbije#History|Jugopetrol]], a large state-owned oil company.<ref name="Euro">{{cite web|publisher=European Parliament|title=Vuk Jeremić: Minister of Foreign Affairs|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/afet/dv/200/200911/2009115cvvukjeremicen.pdf|year=2009|access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref>

Jeremić's paternal grandfather, Bogoljub, was an officer in the [[Royal Yugoslav Army]].<ref name="nytimes.com"/> In April 1941, at the height of [[World War II]], he was captured by the Germans during the [[Axis powers|Axis]] [[invasion of Yugoslavia]] and imprisoned, first at [[Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp|Matthausen]] and then at [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]].<ref name="mfa.rs">{{cite web|publisher=Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs|title=Remarks Delivered to the Lauder School of Government, IDC by H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić|url=http://www.mfa.rs/en/component/content/article/37-old-speeches/3280-serbias-foreign-policy-and-israel-remarks-delivered-to-the-lauder-school-of-government-idc-by-he-mr-vuk-jeremi-minister-of-foreign-affairs-of-the-republic-of-serbia-herzliya-israel-27-december-2007|date=27 December 2007|access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> He returned to Yugoslavia by foot,<ref name="nytimes.com"/> only to be arrested as a political dissident by the country's new [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia|communist authorities]] and jailed at the [[Goli Otok]] prison camp, where he spent the next five years.<ref>[http://noviplamen.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/000000271.jpg Bogoljub Jeremić info], noviplamen.files.wordpress.com, December 2013; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2018}} Through his mother, Jeremić stems from the prominent [[Pozderac family]], widely considered the most influential [[Muslims (ethnic group)|Bosnian Muslim]] political dynasty in post-[[World War II in Yugoslavia|war]] [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]].<ref name="Index.hr"/> Jeremić's maternal great-grandfather, [[Nurija Pozderac]], was a prominent Bosnian Muslim politician in [[Great Depression|Depression]]-era Yugoslavia. A staunch anti-fascist, he joined [[Josip Broz Tito]]'s [[Yugoslav Partisans|Partisans]] in the early 1940s and was killed in action in 1943.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Nurija and his wife Devleta were posthumously declared [[Righteous Among the Nations]] by [[Yad Vashem]] for saving [[Jews]] during [[the Holocaust]], and Jeremić accepted a medal and certificate identifying them as such at a ceremony in Belgrade in November 2012. According to survivors, the couple sheltered Jews who snuck out of a train destined for the [[Jasenovac concentration camp]], which was operated by [[Independent State of Croatia|Croatia]]'s [[fascism|fascist]] ruling party, the [[Ustaše|Ustashas]].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=B92|title=Jeremić receives Israel honor on behalf of ancestors|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society.php?yyyy=2013&mm=03&dd=19&nav_id=85250|date=19 March 2013|access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref> Pozderac's nephews [[Hamdija Pozderac|Hamdija]] and [[Hakija Pozderac|Hakija]] featured prominently in Yugoslav political circles during the 1980s.<ref name="Index.hr"/>

===Education===
Jeremić completed his elementary schooling in Belgrade, moving on to the First Belgrade Gymnasium where he began his high school studies. There, he met [[Boris Tadić]], a pro-Western psychology professor and future [[President of Serbia]] whom the young Jeremić came to regard as a role model and mentor. Before long, Jeremić's family was blacklisted by the increasingly authoritarian government of Yugoslav leader [[Slobodan Milošević]], and had to flee the country. They settled in the United Kingdom, and Jeremić finished his high school education in London.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

Jeremić continued his post-secondary studies at the [[University of Cambridge]] ([[Queens' College, Cambridge|Queens' College]]), graduating with a bachelor's degree in [[theoretical physics]] in 1998.<ref name="B92"/> His years there coincided with the [[Yugoslav Wars]], which negatively affected Serbia's reputation abroad. Jeremić's time at Cambridge provided him with insight into how his country was perceived overseas during the war years. "It was hard to explain that you come from Serbia and you’re not a children-eating radical," Jeremić recalled.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

Jeremić began his [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D]] studies in quantitative finance at the [[University of London]] ([[Imperial College, University of London|Imperial College]]), and worked for [[Deutsche Bank]], [[Dresdner Kleinwort]] and [[AstraZeneca]] in the British capital.<ref name="Nikolić">{{cite web|author=T. Nikolić|publisher=Glas javnosti|title=Vuk Jeremić (Ljubitelj ptica)|language=sr|url=http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2007/05/19/srpski/T07051803.shtml|date=19 May 2007|access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Beginning in 2001, he studied under [[Jeffrey Sachs]] at [[Harvard Kennedy School]] at [[Harvard University]] as a fellow in the Kokkalis Foundation's Program on Southeastern and East-Central Europe, graduating in 2003 with a master's degree in public administration and international development.<ref name="Harvard">{{cite news|publisher=Kennedy School Bulletin|title=The Soul of Democracy: Vuk Jeremić MPA/ID 2003 fights for Serbia's future|url=https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/magazine/archives/spring_2008.pdf|date=Spring 2008|access-date=15 July 2021|page=5}}</ref>

==Career==
===Formative years===
[[File:Tadic, Jeremic & Rumsfeld.jpg|thumb|Tadić and Jeremić meeting with [[United States Secretary of Defense|U.S. Secretary of Defense]] [[Donald Rumsfeld]] at [[The Pentagon]], 20 July 2004]]
In July 1997, Jeremić co-founded and became the financial manager of the Organization of Serbian Students Abroad (OSSA),<ref>[http://ossi.rs/index.php?action=about_history Organization of Serbian Students Abroad website]; accessed 28 April 2015.{{in lang|sr}}</ref> the first international Serbian student association, which at the time had several thousand members. He was an active supporter of ''[[Otpor!]]'' ("Resistance!"), the Serbian civic youth movement that employed non-violent civil disobedience tactics against Milošević's government in the hope of spurning democratic reforms. He became even more determined to see Milošević toppled during and after [[NATO]]'s [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia|bombing of Yugoslavia]] in the spring and summer of 1999. "This guy&nbsp;... Milošević," Jeremić recalled thinking, "he has to be removed, because he’s going to get us all buried. If he stays, he’s going to get us all buried."<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

Following Milošević's [[Overthrow of Slobodan Milošević|resignation]] in October 2000, largely due to the efforts of groups such as ''Otpor!'', Jeremić worked as an advisor to Tadić, then Yugoslavia's Minister of Telecommunications.<ref name="Euro"/> In September 2002, Jeremić helped organise the first international investment conference for the Serbian government in [[New York City]], which was held in cooperation with [[JPMorgan Chase]] and former Canadian [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Brian Mulroney]], who served as the head of the International Council for Supporting Reforms in Serbia.<ref>[http://invest-in-serbia.com/English/news/archive/2002_09/20/2002_09_20_03.htm International Council for Supporting Reforms in Serbia website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053756/http://invest-in-serbia.com/English/news/archive/2002_09/20/2002_09_20_03.htm |date=4 March 2016 }}, invest-in-serbia.com; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref> In early 2003, Yugoslavia was abolished and replaced by the [[political union|state union]] of [[Serbia and Montenegro]]. That June, Jeremić joined the [[Ministry of Defense (Yugoslavia)|Ministry of Defense]] and was appointed Special Envoy for Euro-Atlantic Affairs. In February 2004, he was appointed chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Democratic Party, and in February 2006 to the Main Board of the Democratic Party. From July 2004 to May 2007, during which Serbia and Montenegro ceased to exist and the two countries became separate states, Jeremić served as a senior foreign policy advisor to Tadić, who by that time had become President of Serbia,<ref name="Euro"/> leading what ''[[The New York Times]]'' described as "the most westward-leaning government Serbia has ever had".<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

===Foreign Ministry===
[[File:Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia (6417852491).jpg|left|thumb|200px|Jeremić with British Foreign Secretary [[William Hague]], November 2011]]
Jeremić was sworn in as [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Serbia)|Foreign Minister of Serbia]] on 15 May 2007.<ref name="Euro"/> Under Tadić, pundit Šaša Dragojlo notes, the Foreign Ministry's sole task was ensuring that Kosovo remained part of Serbia, and that if it did declare its independence, that it attained only partial [[International recognition of Kosovo|recognition]].<ref name="Dragojlo">{{cite web|author=Šaša Dragojlo|publisher=Balkan Insight|title=Vuk Jeremic, Serbia's Diplomatic Wolf from Cambridge|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/vuk-jeremic-serbia-s-diplomatic-wolf-from-cambridge-04-13-2016|url-access=subscription |date=14 April 2016|access-date=23 May 2016}}</ref> At first, many in Serbia and abroad were sceptical that the 32-year-old Jeremić would make for an effective Foreign Minister. "When you’re young and when&nbsp;... they see you for the first time," Jeremić remarked, "a lot of them are just kind of surprised. [...] That’s actually a good thing because it opens up their minds. [...] They want to hear what you have to say to them because you’re different."<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

Following Kosovo's [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|unilateral declaration of independence]] in February 2008, Jeremić began campaigning against the self-proclaimed state's integration into the international community. In his five years in office, Jeremić boarded 1,000 flights and visited over 100 countries, remarking that he "pretty much knew 90% of the world's foreign ministers".<ref name="standing">{{cite news|publisher=The Economist|title=Vuk Jeremic is standing for the presidency of the UN General Assembly|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/06/vuk-jeremic-standing-presidency-un-general-assembly|date=7 June 2012|access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref> In 2009 alone, he spent over 700 hours—roughly 29 days—in flight.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> ''[[The Economist]]'' described Serbian diplomacy under Jeremić as being "on steroids".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14710896&fsrc=rss|newspaper=The Economist|title=Better troublesome than dull|date=22 October 2009}}</ref> "His indefatigable travelling," one reporter from the newspaper remarked, "has made most foreign ministers, especially from smaller countries like Serbia, look like sleepy laggards."<ref name="standing"/> Jeremić reiterated that his country would not use military force to retake Kosovo, and stressed that Serbia would resort to dialogue and diplomacy to "defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity".<ref name="nytimes.com"/> He argued that Kosovo has every right to wide-ranging autonomy, but that the [[Government of Serbia]] would never accept full-fledged independence. In an address before [[Israel]]'s [[Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy]], he explained:<blockquote>We have no interest in ruling over the Kosovo Albanian community. We do not want to tax them, nor to police them, nor to have their judicial or&nbsp;... educational systems reintegrated into ours. Our currency does not have to have a presence in Kosovo. Our military would not have to be there, either. And we would not interfere with their relationship with international financial organizations; with them having separate membership in international sporting federations; or with them having some sort of representation abroad.<ref name="mfa.rs"/></blockquote> In 2009, Jeremić asked the [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ) for a non-binding [[International Court of Justice advisory opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence|advisory opinion]] on the declaration.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jeremic: ICJ Ruling Not Before mid-2010|url=http://www.mfa.gov.rs/Policy/Minister/170409_e.html|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> The court ruled that the declaration of independence was legal in July 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kosovo independence declaration deemed legal|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-kosovo-idUSTRE66L01720100723|access-date=29 September 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=23 July 2010}}</ref> Jeremić responded by pushing for a draft resolution at the [[United Nations]] which discouraged unilateral secession as a way of resolving territorial disputes. In late July 2010, he met with [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]] [[Ban Ki-moon]] to discuss the draft resolution.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|title=Serbia seeks support for UN draft resolution on Kosovo
|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-10812392|date=29 July 2010|access-date=23 May 2016}}</ref> In September 2010, the [[UN General Assembly]] adopted the resolution, calling for the dispute to be resolved bilaterally. Jeremić welcomed the General Assembly's decision, as did the [[European Union]]'s [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|High Commissioner]], [[Catherine Ashton]]. Jeremić said that he hoped the resolution "would help create an atmosphere conducive to the creation of a comprehensive compact of peace between Serbs and Albanians achieved through good faith dialogue."<ref>{{cite news|author=Thair Shaikh|publisher=CNN|title=U.N. resolution paves the way for Serbia-Kosovo talks|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/09/10/serbia.kosovo.un.resolution/|date=10 September 2010|access-date=23 May 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Foreign relations of Serbia, Vuk Jeremic visits.png|thumb|right|200px|A map of Jeremić's foreign visits]]

During Jeremić's time in office, relations between Serbia and most of its neighbours improved dramatically.<ref name="standing"/> Relations with the European Union and the United States also improved, despite the dispute over Kosovo.<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Bojana Barlovac|publisher=Balkan Insight|title=Clinton: Serbia, US Relations Improve|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/clinton-serbia-us-relations-improve|date=16 December 2009|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref> In December 2009, the EU lifted [[Visa (document)|visa]] restrictions on Serbia. Jeremić became the first Serbian citizen to enter the EU without a visa when he crossed the Hungarian border on 19 December and had his passport stamped by Hungarian [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hungary)|Foreign Minister]] [[Péter Balázs]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Katarina Subasic|publisher=The Telegraph|title=Serbs enjoy a taste of Europe without visas|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/6858444/Serbs-enjoy-a-taste-of-Europe-without-visas.html|date=21 December 2009|access-date=23 May 2016}}</ref> Jeremić's tenure saw Serbia fulfill its obligations towards the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] (ICTY), which was established by the international community to try individuals suspected of committing war crimes during the Yugoslav Wars. In July 2008, Serbian authorities arrested former Bosnian Serb leader [[Radovan Karadžić]], who was indicted for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by the ICTY and had been in hiding for eleven years. Karadžić was promptly extradited to the ICTY to face trial.<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Finn|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Karadzic Extradited to The Hague to Face War Crimes Charges|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072900341.html|date=30 July 2008|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref> Jeremić said the arrest demonstrated that Serbia was fully committed to becoming a member of the European Union.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|title=Karadzic will fight extradition|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7520682.stm|date=23 July 2008|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref> The arrests of Karadžić's military chief, [[Ratko Mladić]], and Croatan Serb rebel leader [[Goran Hadžić]], both of whom had been in hiding, followed three years later.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia|title=The Fugitives|url=http://www.icty.org/en/about/office-of-the-prosecutor/the-fugitives|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref>

On 1 March 2012, Serbia was granted candidate status by the European Union, having applied for membership in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|title=EU leaders grant Serbia candidate status|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17225415|date=1 March 2012|access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> The Democratic Party was voted out of office in the [[2012 Serbian presidential election|Serbian presidential election]] of May 2012, and Jeremić lost his ministerial role.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|title=Tomislav Nikolic beats Boris Tadic in Serbia run-off|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18134955|date=21 May 2012|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref> His last day in office was 27 July 2012, and his final state visit in his capacity as Foreign Minister was to Moscow, where he spoke with Russia's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]], [[Sergey Lavrov]].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Dnevnik.hr|title=Jeremić zadnji dan mandata u Moskvi kod Lavrova|language=hr|url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/svijet/jeremic-zadnji-dan-mandata-u-moskvi-kod-lavrova.html|date=26 July 2012|access-date=24 May 2016}}</ref>

===United Nations General Assembly presidency===
{{See also|2012 United Nations General Assembly presidential election}}
[[File:Catherine Ashton and Vuk Jeremić.jpg|thumb|EU High Representative Dame [[Catherine Ashton]] and Vuk Jeremić, February 2013]]
For the [[United Nations General Assembly]]'s [[Sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly|67th session]] (commencing in September 2012), the office of [[President of the United Nations General Assembly|President of the General Assembly]] was slated to be occupied by an individual from Eastern Europe, one of the five regional groups of UN member states.<ref name="Chigago Tribune">{{cite news|author=Louis Charbonneau|publisher=Chicago Tribune|title=Intrigue, treachery charges fly in fight for U.N. post|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/03/29/intrigue-treachery-charges-fly-in-fight-for-un-post/|date=29 March 2012|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref> Jeremić [[2012 United Nations General Assembly presidential election|ran]] against [[Lithuania]]'s [[Dalius Čekuolis]], and was elected president by a simple majority of votes (99–85) among members of the General Assembly.<ref name="standing"/> The election marked the first time since 1991 that the General Assembly had to vote in order to select its next president.<ref name="Chigago Tribune"/> Jeremić became the youngest president in the General Assembly's history.<ref>{{cite web|last=Charbonneau|first=Louis|date=19 October 2012|title=Palestinian push for U.N. upgrade likely to succeed: Jeremic|website=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-un/palestinian-push-for-u-n-upgrade-likely-to-succeed-jeremic-idUSBRE89I1F020121019|access-date=25 December 2020}}</ref> In his acceptance speech, he stressed the need for international unity in tackling the problems that accompany conflict and instability:<ref>{{cite web|publisher=United Nations General Assembly|title=H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić: Acceptance Speech Upon His Election as President|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/66/meetings/elections/presskit67/acceptance_speech.pdf|date=8 June 2012|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref>

{{centered pull quote|I hope that our joint endeavours may help to bring us closer to the day when humankind shall have assuaged its hurts and abolished its fears; and, in so doing, to further the aspirations of the peoples of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. May it be the will of God that the next session of the General Assembly goes down in history as one of peace.}}

During Jeremić's tenure, on 29 November 2012, [[Palestine]] was [[United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19|granted]] non-member observer status in the General Assembly by a vote of 138–9.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Ewen MacAskill|author2=Chris McGreal|work=The Guardian|title=UN general assembly makes resounding vote in favour of Palestinian statehood|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/29/united-nations-vote-palestine-state|date=29 November 2012|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref> On 2 April 2013, Jeremić facilitated the General Assembly's adoption of the [[Arms Trade Treaty]] (ATT), which was aimed at regulating international conventional weapons commerce. The ATT was passed by a vote of 154–3, with [[North Korea]], [[Syria]] and [[Iran]] as the only country's voting against it.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=United Nations |title=Overwhelming Majority of States in General Assembly Say 'Yes' to Arms Trade Treaty to Stave off Irresponsible Transfers that Perpetuate Conflict, Human Suffering |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2013/ga11354.doc.htm |date=2 April 2013 |access-date=26 May 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019004840/http://www.un.org/press/en/2013/ga11354.doc.htm |archive-date=19 October 2014 }}</ref>

To mark Pakistani activist [[Malala Yousafzai]]'s 16th birthday, Jeremić convened a United Nations Youth Assembly on 12 July 2013.<ref>{{cite news|author=Margaret Besheer|publisher=Voice of America|title=Malala Yousufzai to Address UN Youth Assembly|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/malala-yousufzai-to-address-un-youth-assembly/1700146.html|date=11 July 2013|access-date=26 May 2016}}</ref> At the Youth Assembly, Yousafzai delivered her first public remarks after being attacked by the [[Taliban]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/12/world/united-nations-malala/index.html|work=CNN|title=Malala at U.N.: Taliban failed to silence us|date=12 July 2013}}</ref> Jeremić's tenure also saw the General Assembly unanimously adopt Resolution 67/296, proclaiming 6 April as the annual International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.<ref>[https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/67/296 UN General Assembly Resolution 67/296], un.org; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.olympic.org/news/un-creates-international-day-of-sport-for-development-and-peace/207997 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace], olympic.org; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref> Proclaiming the International Day of Sport was a joint initiative by Jeremić and [[Jacques Rogge]], the president of the International Olympic Committee ([[IOC]]).<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/news/highlights-of-the-week/202686 Highlights of the Week], olympic.org; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref><ref>[http://sport.blic.rs/Tenis/242998/Novak-Djokovic-Vuk-Jeremic-i-Zak-Rog-na-fotografiji-godine Novak Djokovic and Vuk Jeremić], sport.blic.rs; accessed 28 April 2015.{{in lang|sr}}</ref> Rogge and [[UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador]] [[Novak Djokovic]] attended the session as special guests and addressed the General Assembly, Djokovic speaking on behalf of world athletes and Rogge on behalf of the [[International Olympic Committee]].<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Olympism_in_action/Peace_through_sport/Jacques-Rogge-International-Day-of-Sport-adoption-eng.pdf Peace Through Sport], olympic.org; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref><ref>[http://novakdjokovic.com/en/news/media/novak-addresses-united-nations Novak Djokovic addresses UN], novakdjokovic.com; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref> Jeremić's last day as president was 17 September 2013, at which point he was succeeded by [[John William Ashe]] of [[Antigua and Barbuda]].<ref>{{cite web|author=John William Ashe|author-link=John William Ashe|publisher=United Nations|title=Opening Address by H.E. Ambassador John Ashe, President of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/president/68/pdf/statements/opening17092013.pdf|date=17 September 2013|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref>

===CIRSD founder and member of Serbian Parliament===
After his mandate as the President of the General Assembly expired, Jeremić founded the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) in November 2013.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=B92|title=Otvoren Jeremićev institut CIRSD|trans-title=Jeremić CIRSD institute opens|language=sr|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=11&dd=05&nav_id=773865|date=5 November 2013|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> In May 2014, he joined the Leadership Council of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unsdsn.org/about-us/leadership-council|title=Sustainable Development Solutions Network|publisher=Unsdsn.org|date=16 December 2011|access-date=30 April 2015}}</ref> which was launched by [[United Nations Secretary-General|UN Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]] in August 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=2692&ArticleID=9250&l=en |title=Press Releases August 2012 - UN Launches Sustainable Development Network to Help Find Solutions to Global Problems - United Nations Environment Programme|publisher=UNEP|access-date=30 April 2015}}</ref><ref>[https://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/SDSN%20FINAL%20release_9Aug.pdf Millennium Goals (PDF)], un.org; accessed 28 April 2015.</ref>

Jeremić was elected to his country's [[National Assembly (Serbia)|National Assembly]] during the [[2012 Serbian parliamentary election|2012 parliamentary election]], and his time as [[Democratic Party (Serbia)|Democratic Party]] legislator overlapped with his tenure as President of the General Assembly. Following the elections, Tadić left the Democratic Party, which came under the leadership [[Dragan Đilas]]. As a member of the pro-Tadić camp, Jeremić stepped down from all his positions within the party, though he retained nominal membership. He was expelled from the party on 14 February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=14&nav_category=11&nav_id=686906|title=I Vuk Jeremić isključen iz DS-a|language=sr|publisher=B92|date=14 February 2013|access-date=5 February 2014}}</ref> He subsequently filed a suit before the [[Constitutional Court of Serbia]], claiming the party's decision was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=02&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=688164|title=Odluka DS o mandatima krši Ustav|language=sr|publisher=B92|date=19 February 2013|access-date=31 July 2014}}</ref> His appeal was rejected by the Constitutional Court; Jeremić complied with the court's decision and left the party, but kept his parliamentary seat as an [[independent politician|independent]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2013&mm=04&dd=23&nav_category=11&nav_id=707539|title=USS nenadležan za mandat Jeremića|language=sr|publisher=B92|date=23 April 2013|access-date=31 July 2014}}</ref>

===United Nations Secretary-General selection===
{{Main|United Nations Secretary-General selection, 2016}}
As early as October 2012, a number of UN diplomats were mentioning Jeremić as a potential candidate to succeed Ban Ki-moon as secretary-general.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-un-idUSBRE89I1F020121019 Jeremić as potential candidate to succeed Ban Ki-moon], reuters.com; accessed 29 April 2015.</ref> On 19 November 2013, former Spanish [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Spain)|Foreign Minister]] [[Miguel Ángel Moratinos]] described Jeremić as the best candidate for the post, saying "his election would be great news for the 21st century." He added that Jeremić would "succeed in changing the current structure of the UN and enable it to play a new role in the world."<ref>[http://www.blic.rs/Vesti/Politika/421090/Moratinos-Jeremica-na-celo-UN Miguel Ángel Moratinos endorses Jeremić], blic.rs; accessed 28 April 2015.{{in lang|sr}}</ref> On 12 April 2016, the Government of Serbia officially backed Jeremić's candidacy for UN Secretary-General.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeremic thanks government for backing his top UN job bid|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2016&mm=04&dd=12&nav_id=97663|access-date=12 April 2016|publisher=B92|date=12 April 2016}}</ref> Following a General Assembly town hall meeting on 13 April 2016, Jeremić emerged as one of the favourites to win.<ref>{{cite news|author=Michael Nichols|publisher=Reuters|title=Front runners emerge for U.N. chief from town halls with General Assembly|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-un-secretarygeneral-idUKKCN0XC2H7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421185519/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-un-secretarygeneral-idUKKCN0XC2H7|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2016|date=15 April 2016|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> He put forth a 53-point platform describing the measures he would push for if elected, making him the only candidate to do so.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/08/12/intv-amanpour-holmes-vuk-jeremic-un-candidate.cnn/video/playlists/amanpour/ The Serbian diplomat who wants to lead the U.N. ] CNN, 12 August 2016, 00:50–00:58</ref> Between July and September, the Security Council held a number of informal, closed-door straw polls where members of the council were asked to indicate whether they "encouraged", "discouraged" or had "no opinion" regarding each of the candidates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-07/27/c_135542545.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728143731/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-07/27/c_135542545.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 July 2016|title=Security Council to hold second straw poll of next UN chief on Aug. 5|publisher=[[Xinhua News Agency|Xinhua]]|date=27 July 2016|access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/hold-informal-poll-12-candidates-chief-40759267|title=Diplomats:Ex-Portuguese Minister Tops Poll for Next UN Chief|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|last=Lederer|first=Edith M.|date=21 July 2016|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> He finished the race with the second highest cumulative number of positive votes in the six rounds of straw polls carried out by the UN Security Council, behind eventual winner [[António Guterres]]. By the same measure, he was first among [[Eastern European Group|Eastern European candidates]].

===Serbian presidential candidacy===
{{Main|2017 Serbian presidential election}}
In January 2017, Jeremić announced that he would run for president in the 2017 election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-minister Jeremic says he will seek Serbian presidency|url=http://staging.hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_SERBIA_JEREMIC?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-01-15-09-44-30|access-date=15 January 2017|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> On 10 March 2017, he officially submitted his nomination as presidential candidate to electoral commission with 14,360 valid signatures as a proof of nomination.<ref>{{cite news|title= RIK proglasila kandidaturu Vuka Jeremića |url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2017&mm=03&dd=10&nav_category=11&nav_id=1238594|access-date=10 March 2017|publisher=www.b92.net|date=10 March 2017}}</ref> His candidacy was endorsed by organisations such as [[New Serbia (political party)|New Serbia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/2660/izbori-2017/2636706/predsednistvo-nove-srbije-podrzalo-jeremica.html|title=Predsedništvo Nove Srbije podržalo Jeremića|publisher=RTS|date=19 February 2017|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> [[Together for Serbia]]<ref name="presidental_candidate">{{cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/a221366/Vesti/Vesti/Vuk-Jeremic-kandidat-za-predsednika-Srbije.html|title=Jeremić počeo kampanju za predsedničke izbore|author=Emina Kovačević|publisher=N1|date=15 January 2017|access-date=7 February 2017}}</ref> and [[Social Democratic Party (Serbia)|Social Democratic Party]],<ref name="SDS">{{cite web|url=http://rs.n1info.com/a230925/Vesti/Vesti/Tadic-SDS-podrzava-Jeremica.html|title=Tadić: SDS podržava Jeremića|publisher=N1|date=26 February 2017|access-date=26 February 2017|archive-date=16 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316040710/http://rs.n1info.com/a230925/Vesti/Vesti/Tadic-SDS-podrzava-Jeremica.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[People's Movement of Serbia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://narodnipokretsrbije.rs/aleksic-narodni-pokret-srbije-podrzava-jeremica/|title=Aleksić: Narodni Pokret Srbije Podržava Jeremića|publisher=People's Movement of Serbia|access-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> as well as current and former public officeholders such as [[Dušan Petrović]], leader of the [[Together for Serbia]], former [[Ministry of Justice (Serbia)|Minister of Justice]] (2007–2008) and [[Minister of Agriculture (Serbia)|Minister of Agriculture]] (2011–2012),<ref name="presidental_candidate" /> [[Sanda Rašković Ivić]], [[List of current members of the National Assembly of Serbia|member of the National Assembly of Serbia]] and former leader of the [[Democratic Party of Serbia]],<ref name="presidental_candidate" /> [[Veroljub Stevanović]], leader of the [[Together for Šumadija]] and former [[List of mayors of Kragujevac|Mayor of Kragujevac]] (1996–2000; 2004–2014)<ref name="presidental_candidate" /> and  [[Borislav Novaković]], former [[List of mayors of Novi Sad|Mayor of Novi Sad]] (2000–2004) and  vice-president of the [[Assembly of Vojvodina]] (2004–2008).<ref name="presidental_candidate" />

Although many thought that opposition would have better chances against&nbsp;[[Aleksandar Vučić|Vučić]]&nbsp;if united, and considered [[Saša Janković]] a better option for a single opposition presidential candidate, Jeremić announced his candidacy nevertheless. He finished fourth, with little less than 6% of the vote.

===People's Party===
In the aftermath of the presidential election, though his result of little less than 6% was quite disappointing, he announced formation of a party. He gathered support for such move mainly from conservative intellectuals who were opposing [[Aleksandar Vučić|Vučić]]'s government, and were previously tied with&nbsp;[[Democratic Party of Serbia|DSS]]&nbsp;(most notably&nbsp;[[Sanda Rašković Ivić|Sanda Rašković-Ivić]], a former DSS president). He formed the [[People's Party (Serbia, 2017)|People's Party]] in October 2017. The party is positioned as a [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] political organisation, which cooperates closely with Saša Janković's [[Movement of Free Citizens (Serbia)|Movement of Free Citizens]]. People's Party currently polls around 4%, which is considered a good result since the party was recently formed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2017&mm=11&dd=09&nav_category=11&nav_id=1323298|title=Faktor plus: SNS i Vučić na 52%, SPS drugi, Jeremić 3,3%|date=11 September 2017 }}</ref> In late March 2021, Jeremić stated his opposition to the legalisation of civil unions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-56578358|title=LGBT, istopolni brakovi i Srbija: Koja prava imaju gej ljudi - od penzije do usvajanja dece|date=1 April 2021|publisher=BBC|website=bbc.com|language=Serbian}}</ref> In May 2022, Jeremić expressed his opposition to [[International sanctions during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|sanctions against Russia]] following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 May 2022 |title=Jeremić: Uvođenje sankcija Rusiji bi verovatno moglo dovesti do ulaska samoproglašenog Kosova u UN - Politika - Dnevni list Danas |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/jeremic-uvodjenje-sankcija-rusiji-bi-verovatno-moglo-dovesti-do-ulaska-samoproglasenog-kosova-u-un/ |access-date=25 May 2022 |language=sr-RS}}</ref> Under Jeremic's leadership, party shifted to [[Far-right politics|far right]] positions, espoused ever more nationalist and anti-EU agenda, with issues of Kosovo's status and Serbian sovereignty-ism at the core of its message.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Serbia's Elections – Defeat for Far Right, as well as Moderate Opposition |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2024/01/05/serbias-elections-defeat-for-far-right-as-well-as-moderate-opposition/}}</ref> On general [[2023 Serbian parliamentary election|elections in December 2023]], People's Party won only 0.88 percent of votes.

=== Controversies ===
In 2012, Jeremić made a Tweet likening Albanians to the "Orcs" from the movie ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey|The Hobbit]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barlovac |first=Bojana |date=December 19, 2012 |title=Jeremic Likens Kosovars to 'Hobbit's' Evil Orcs |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2012/12/19/jeremic-compares-kosovo-issue-with-hobbit-movie/ |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=Balkan Insight}}</ref>

Several weeks before the [[EuroPride|Europride]] 2022 that was held in Belgrade on 17 September, far right and conservative groups, including [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] started a campaign for banning the event. Jeremić joined the campaign, stating he is against Belgrade to be gay capital of Europe,<ref>{{Cite web |last=d.o.o |first=cubes |title=Vuk Jeremić: Otkazati Europrajd iz "epidemiloških razloga" - Vreme |url=https://vreme.com/vesti/vuk-jeremic-otkazati-europrajd-iz-epidemiloskih-razloga/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=vreme.com/ |language=sr-RS}}</ref> and calling the state authorities to ban the event due to the risk of the [[2022–2023 mpox outbreak|monkeypox]] epidemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caucaso |first=Osservatorio Balcani e |title=Europride in Serbia: success and defeat |url=https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Serbia/Europride-in-Serbia-success-and-defeat-220651 |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=OBC Transeuropa |language=it}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Jeremić is married to Nataša Jeremić (née Lekić), a former journalist and news anchor for Serbia's state broadcaster, [[Radio Television of Serbia]].<ref name="nytimes.com"/> The couple have one daughter, who was born in April 2018.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Večernje novosti|title=Jeremići dobili ćerku na godišnjicu braka|language=sr|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/scena.147.html:725323-JEREMICI-DOBILI-CERKU-NA-GODISNjICU-BRAKA-Sofija-pravi-bozji-dar|date=2 May 2018|access-date=29 September 2018}}</ref> Between 2011 and 2015, Jeremić served as the president of the [[Tennis Federation of Serbia]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Tennis Federation of Serbia|title=Svi predsednici|trans-title=All Presidents|language=sr|url=http://www.teniskisavez.com/o-nama/svi-predsednici/|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Telegraf.rs|title=Mirko Petrović je novi predsednik Teniskog saveza Srbije!|trans-title=Mirko Petrović is the new president of the Tennis Federation of Serbia!|language=sr|url=http://www.telegraf.rs/sport/1532432-mirko-petrovic-je-novi-predsednik-teniskog-saveza-srbije|date=20 April 2015|access-date=5 August 2016}}</ref> Jeremić is a [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox Christian]].<ref name="Nikolić"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Vuk Jeremić}}
* [https://www.jeremic.rs/ Jeremić's official web site]
*[https://www.un.org/en/ga/president/67/about/ Official biography]
*{{Charlie Rose view|7164}}

{{Navboxes|title=Offices|list=
{{s-start}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Vuk Drašković]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Serbia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]|years=2007–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ivan Mrkić]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Slobodan Živojinović]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of the [[Tennis Federation of Serbia]]|years=2011–2015}}
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{{Cabinet of Vojislav Koštunica II}}
{{Cabinet of Mirko Cvetković}}
{{Foreign Ministers of Serbia}}
{{Presidents of the UN General Assembly}}
{{People's Party (Serbia, 2017)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jeremic, Vuk}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Imperial College London]]
[[Category:Alumni of Queens' College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Candidates for President of Serbia]]
[[Category:Democratic Party (Serbia) politicians]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox Christians from Serbia]]
[[Category:Foreign ministers of Serbia]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the Serbian Orthodox Church]]
[[Category:Politicians from Belgrade]]
[[Category:People's Party (Serbia, 2017) politicians]]
[[Category:Pozderac family]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly]]
[[Category:Serbian democracy activists]]
[[Category:Diplomats from Belgrade]]
[[Category:Serbian people of Bosnia and Herzegovina descent]]
[[Category:Serbian people of Bosniak descent]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Tennis Federation of Serbia]]