Branko Milinković was one of the founders of the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and our true and loyal friend. He was one of the most popular lecturers at our Human Rights Schools, eloquent and always willing to answer difficult questions, to share his knowledge and experience with others. Although he spent the last decade as a career diplomat, he continued participating in public and academic life. He authored several books and numerous articles, took part in numerous research projects and lectured at many conferences, educational programmes, courses and seminars. Branko demonstrated his commitment to the observance of human rights back in the mid-1990s in his own way. Always tolerant, maybe excessively so, he excelled in arguing for and systematically advocating the values he deeply cherished. The way in which he elaborated his views, the calmness and mildness he displayed in all dialogues and discussions forced even those who disagreed with what he was saying to respect him and listen to him attentively, because it was clear that he really believed in everything he said.
Branko knew how to analyse events and he reacted to them in his own way – with calm and composure, without resorting to harsh words, charming his interlocutors and often succeeding in reconciling diverging views. He also knew how to listen to others with a lot of patience, with the respect, appreciation and graciousness so rare in our society. It was this mildness and magnanimity of his that captivated his interlocutors and discouraged those who disagreed with him.
Branko was an exceptional lawyer but also a man of diverse interests. It was always a pleasure to hear what he thought of the movies he had seen, the books he had read, the theatre plays he had seen, the countries he had visited… He was a friend too precious to lose. A friend forever.
Branko had never forgotten us, although he had spent the last decade in the foreign service, mostly abroad. He was always there for us, willing to help and advise us, console us, calm us down and raise our spirits.
His premature demise left us very, very sad.
