Demo Beriša
Demo Beriša | |
|---|---|
| Демо Бериша | |
.png?lang=en) Beriša in 2023 | |
| Minister of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue | |
| Assumed office 16 April 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Đuro Macut |
| Preceded by | Tomislav Žigmanov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 April 1963 Peć, SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | People's Movement for the State |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Novi Sad |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Yugoslavia Serbia and Montenegro |
| Branch | Yugoslav People's Army Yugoslav Army |
| Service years | 1982–2005 |
| Rank | Military police officer |
Demo Beriša (Serbian Cyrillic: Демо Бериша, Albanian: Demo Berisha; born 17 April 1963) is a Serbian retired military officer serving as the minister of human and minority rights and social dialogue since 16 April 2025.[1][2] An ethnic Kosovo Albanian, he opposes the recognition of Kosovo.[3]
Early life and career
[edit]Beriša was born in 1963 in a Kosovo Albanian family in Peć, SAP Kosovo, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia. He graduated from a military school in Sarajevo and later continued his studies in Novi Sad, where he earned a degree in economics.[3]
He served as an officer in the military police branch of the Yugoslav People's Army and the Serbian Army,[3] retiring in 2005.[4] Since 2014, Beriša has served as the president of the Matica of Albanians.[5] The association works to improve relations between Serbs and Albanians, and also focuses on preserving the Albanian language and culture, as well as promoting literacy among Albanians in Vojvodina.[6] The association publishes the first Serbian-Albanian bilingual magazine[7] and also engaged in humanitarian activities.[8] Beriša and his association maintain cooperation with the Embassy of Albania in Belgrade[9] Matica of Albanians has had all its bank accounts blocked since 2019.[10]
Political activities
[edit]Since 2023, Beriša has been working as an advisor in the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue.[11]
In March 2025, Beriša was one of the founding members of the People's Movement for the State (PZND), a political initiative launched by Serbia's president Aleksandar Vučić.[12] Beriša voiced opposition to the student-led anti-corruption protests in Serbia that have been organised since 2024.[13] In April 2025, Beriša attended the pro-government counter-protest in Belgrade.[14]
Minister of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue
[edit]The composition of Đuro Macut's cabinet was announced on 14 April 2025, with Beriša mentioned as a candidate for the minister of human and minority rights and social dialogue.[15] His nomination was opposed by Shaip Kamberi, the only ethnic Albanian member of the National Assembly. Kamberi stated that the proposal to appoint Beriša represented "a heavy blow to every Albanian who has suffered, resisted, and sacrificed for their rights in Serbia".[11] Beriša was elected minister on 16 April 2025.[16]
Beriša condemned the blockade of the Radio Television of Serbia and stated that his ministry will invite the deans of the faculties for a discussion within the framework of the social dialogue.[17]
Personal life
[edit]Beriša is married and has two children. He is a licensed court interpreter for the Albanian language.[18] In 2019, Beriša was convicted for obstructing a police officer during a traffic stop in Novi Sad and received a six-month suspended sentence.[19]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ ""Vojnik po vokaciji": Ko je Demo Beriša, novi ministar koji već poziva studente na razgovor? - Društvo - Dnevni list Danas" (in Serbian). 14 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Vlada Srbije: Ko su ministri u timu Đura Macuta". BBC News na srpskom (in Serbian (Latin script)). 16 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "Demo Berisha - Albanac koji ne priznaje Republiku Kosovo (VIDEO)". Info-ks.net (in Croatian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Krstović, Anđela (14 April 2025). "Demo Beriša, biografija: Ko je ministar za ljudska i manjinska prava u novoj Vladi Srbije". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Beriša: Mogao bih da doprinesem boljim odnosima Srba i Albanaca - Politika - Dnevni list Danas" (in Serbian). 21 November 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "У Новом Саду формирано удружење Матица Албанаца - Dnevnik". www.dnevnik.rs (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). 13 January 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Reagon Demë Berisha: Lehtë të jesh shqiptar në Prishtinë e Tiranë, por të jesh shqiptar në Serbi..." Bota Sot. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "NI SRBI NI ALBANCI NEMAJU VIŠE DECE ZA RATOVANJE! Beriša od svog naroda zatražio da se ukinu NERAZUMNE TAKSE". espreso.co.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Kush është Demo Berisha, shqiptari që nuk e njeh Republikën e Kosovës? (Video/Foto)". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 7 August 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Lazić, Miloš Ž (18 April 2025). "Udruženje novog ministra Demo Beriše pet godina u blokadi: Svi računi Matice Albanaca "u crvenom"". NOVA portal (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ a b Evropa, Radio Slobodna (14 April 2025). "Šaipu Kamberiju predlog da Dema Beriša bude ministar u Vladi Srbije 'neprihvatljiv' i 'sraman'". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Evo ko su članovi inicijativnog odbora za osnivanje Pokreta: Među njima Vučić, profesori, lekari". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 23 March 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Petranović, Veljko. "OVDE NISU SAMO STUDENTI Beriša: Oni su očito dobili rok i finansijska sredstva, tu nema nikakve tajne, cilj je rušenje Srbije - Alo.rs". alo (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ TANJUG (11 April 2025). "Demo Beriša: Sutrašnji skup će biti prikaz prave demokratske Srbije". tanjug.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "KO JE DEMO BERIŠA? Novi ministar u Vladi Srbije; Bivši oficir JNA i vojske Srbije - Dnevnik". www.dnevnik.rs (in Serbian (Latin script)). 14 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Vojvodine, Javna medijska ustanova JMU Radio-televizija. "Izabrana nova Vlada Srbije, premijer i ministri položili zakletvu pred poslanicima Skupštine". JMU Radio-televizija Vojvodine (in Serbian (Latin script)). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Demo Beriša: Zaposleni u RTS-u su najugroženiji kada je reč o ljudskim pravima". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 20 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ S, N. (14 April 2025). "Demo Beriša je novi ministar za ljudska prava: Ovo je biografija". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Danas saznaje: Demo Beriša pre pet godina osuđen za ometanje službenog lica - Društvo - Dnevni list Danas" (in Serbian). 16 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.