Graduated from the Podgorica Faculty of Law, former Justice Minister, Mr. Željko Šturanović, today 48 [1], became on November 10, 2006, the first government leader since Montenegro proclaimed its independence on June 3.

On January 19, 2007, he had publicly announced that he suffered from a rare neuroendocrine lung tumor, diagnosed earlier in the year after medical exams in a clinical center of Montenegro, next confirmed in November 2006 after a heart checkup in an Italian clinic in Rimini.

In January, Prime Minister Željko Šturanović was entrusting the Podgorica-based daily Vijesti with: “I have motivation, I know that the disease is surmountable and I am determined to fight it. (...) I feel well, I am going to work and I will assure my governmental offices.”

Until now, he had been in capacity to perform his public duties in spite of the cancer therapy he was receiving for several days each month end.

His entourage said that the heavy medical treatment which will be given to him over the next months, will decrease to a significant degree his capacities to work, at the origin of his decision to leave as of now his governmental functions.

According to the protocol, Prime Minister Šturanović’s resignation should be notify by a letter to the President of the Parliament of Montenegro (Skupština), Mr. Ranko Krivokapić.