Željko Komšić

Mr. Komšić was born on January 20, 1964, in Sarajevo where he completed his education, receiving his law degree from the University of Sarajevo. During his schooling he was active in the student movement. Later he also graduated from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

In 1992, he worked as a lawyer at the Institute for Pension Insurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Immediately after the beginning of the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina he voluntarily joined the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  He demonstrated exceptional bravery in defending Sarajevo and received the «Zlatni ljiljan» (“Golden Lilly“), the highest military decoration. In the army he attained the rank of First Lieutenant and in 1996 he was demobilized at his own request.

From 1996 to 1998, he was employed at the Federal Ministry for Displaced Persons and Refugees. Mr. Komšić embarked upon an active political career as a member of the Social Democratic Party of BH and was elected a member of the City Council of Sarajevo.

From 1998 to 2000, he was the President of the City Council of Sarajevo.

In the 2000 local elections, he was elected Mayor of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo, a position he held till the autumn of 2001.

Following the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he was appointed as the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Belgrade in 2001. In the spring of 2003, he resigned from the post of BH Ambassador to the FR of Yugoslavia as a gesture of disapproval towards the nationalist concept of governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr. Komšić was elected into the top party leadership of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From 2003 to 2004, he performed the duties of Deputy Mayor of the City of Sarajevo.

Mr. Komšić won the 2004 local elections, becoming Mayor of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo.

At the Party Congress he was elected vice-president of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a position he still holds today.

In the general election held in 2006, he ran as a candidate for the Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Komšić emerged victorious and was elected to a four-year term as a member (chairman) of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Mr. Komšić took over the chairmanship of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 6, 2007.

Mr. Komšić is an Honorary Citizen of El Paso (Texas, USA) and the recipient of numerous civic awards and recognitions.

Mr. Komšić lives in Sarajevo. He is married and has one daughter.

Mr. Komšić dedicates a great deal of his time to social and humanitarian activities and is gladly seen amongst his fellow citizens.

Source: University Programs and Events Planning Resources, September 2007