Ivo Josipovic
President of Croatia (2010-2015)
Ivo Josipović
President of Croatia (2010-2015)
Biography
Ivo Josipović (Zagreb, 1957), composer and lawyer, university professor, served as the President of Croatia from 2010 to 2015. As politician, he promoted reconciliation in the S.E. Europe, human rights and fight against corruption. Today, he is Professor Emeritus at University of Zagreb-Faculty of Law and member of many national and international organizations.
As the President of the Croatia, he promoted reconciliation in the region more than any other politician. During his mandate, the relations between states in the region, even those who had war several years ago, were visibly improved, namely, relations between Croatia and Serbia and Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, he advocated rights of victims of the war and responsibility of anyone who did war crime. During his political and professional career he supported transitional justice and international law, including work of the International criminal court for the Former Yugoslavia. Also, Josipovic was one of Croatian politicians who strongly supported Croatian path to European Union having the important role in promoting European values. During his mandate Croatia has joined European Union. Also, Josipovic promoted justice and fight against corruption. Specially he contributed to just society promoting responsibility of those who were war profiters and performed criminal activities during process of privatization during transitional period in Croatia.
Before presidential mandate, Ivo Josipovic has been a university professor (International Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure), member of Parliament and composer. He has published several books and many about 100 scientific papers dealing with international criminal law, criminal procedure and human rights. He has Ph.D. in Criminal sciences from University of Zagreb.
At the Music Academy Josipovic taught harmony. He wrote some 70 compositions for orchestra and soloists, which have been performed by prominent artists and recorded on about 30 CD`s, including opera “Lennon”. He was the director of one of the world's biggest festivals of contemporary music, the Music Biennale Zagreb and secretary general of the Croatian Composers` Union.
Josipovic received honorary doctorate from Immanuel Kant University (Kaliningrad), Istanbul University, the Mediterranean University of Albania and Alfa BK University Belgrade. He has received prestigious domestic and international awards for his work in the field of human rights, ecumenicalism and art. Among many recognitions and decorations, he received the European Medal of Tolerance from the European Union, the Premio Galileo 2000 Award for art and Grand Prix of the European Broadcasting Union. Also, he received high decorations from several European countries (Denmark, Norway, Poland, Italy, …). Ivo Josipovic is member of Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Club de Madrid, World Academy of Art and Science, Patron of European Academy of Sciences and Arts and many other artistic, legal and human rights organizations in Croatia and abroad.
