His reign was marked by a state of emergency period and the Operation Sabre, an action aimed at finding those responsible for political assassinations and combating organized crime.

In November 2000, Živković became the Federal Minister of Interior of FR Yugoslavia and served until 2003, when the position was abolished following the constitutional formation of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Following a loss of power in 2004, Živković formed a non-governmental organization Milenijum - Center for Development of Civil Society, as a channel for his desire to "modify the consciousness of Serbian citizens related to the need of involving each individual into ongoing process of changes".

During that period Živković was often linked in the media to another Democratic Party outcast Čedomir Jovanović who was vocally critical of the DS direction under the new leadership, but the two never really formed any kind of common political plan of action.

[1] During this period, Živković was still present in public life, making occasional appearances on political talk shows, commenting on his past days with Zoran Đinđić and criticizing the lack of reformist agenda in the Government of Vojislav Koštunica.