November 29, 2020 - Is the development of Montenegro as a maritime and coastal country spontaneously or strategically planned? What is the maritime traffic pressure on the sensitive ecosystem of the Bay of Kotor? The year 2020 allows us to take a break. And to look at the relationship with the sea as the most crucial development resource of our country.

Boka is known as one of the most beautiful bays in the world, but due to its fjord-like shape that slows down the exchange of water masses it is one of the most sensitive ecosystems of the generally endangered Mediterranean Sea. In recent years, it has been under significant pressure, as it is known as one of the most popular cruising and yachting destinations, which has led to accelerated but completely uncontrolled development.

The most impressive users of the waters of the Bay of Kotor are certainly cruise ships, of which an increasing number have been coming in recent years. But there is also a vast number of yachts, sailboats, speedboats, motorboats, and jetskis. The construction of a seaplane port in Petrovići near Krašić has also been announced. Of course, sailors, rowers, divers, fishers- all of them count on Boka as well.

Illustration, Source: Boka Surf FB

Is there room for everyone? How to respond to the wishes and needs of all stakeholders while preserving the sea and life in it? Integral planning, I guess. But we still do not have such plans on the horizon.

The year we will soon see off has brought vast changes in all fields. The negative economic impact of the crisis the COVID pandemic has brought us has affected almost all crucial spheres of the Montenegrin economy. But the absence of the tourist season, or maritime traffic reduced by more than 80 percent, delighted fish and crabs. Dr. Mirko Đurović, an expert on marine mammals from the Institute of Marine Biology, explains:

"Until 2020, we can freely say that there was a lot of pressure when it comes to maritime traffic, a large number of cruise ships, motorboats, yachts, speedboats, jetskis, everything we see during the summer. This year we did not have a tourist season. This was unfortunate, as a large part of the population survives on tourism, but in terms of the natural environment, this was a nice break, as far as the Bay of Kotor is concerned. I am sure that people have also noticed that the seawater is much more transparent, that the water is cleaner, visually, and we will see how things will go further. It will probably go back to normal when this whole corona situation is resolved."

Cruise Ships in Kotor, Source: FOS Media

We must find a balance between economic interests and the need to protect the environment, is the message of a journalist specializing in reporting on the sea and maritime affairs, Siniša Luković:

"If we could see anything positive from this situation with COVID, it is that we had the opportunity to compare this year when there was almost no maritime traffic, during the summer months in the Bay of Kotor compared to what we had in previous years. And we saw how chaotic the situation was. It is obvious it a million ways, but we may see the best answer through the recovery of the marine biosphere and life in the sea in general. You have seen that much larger quantities of fish have returned, more marine mammals, that the sea is much cleaner, that the whole environment is healthier. Last year we had chaos in some respects, this year the complete opposite has been the case. We have to find some balance in between to work with each other."

There are a large number of problems when it comes to maritime traffic in Boka, says the captain of the long voyage and naval pilot, Rajko Čavor:

"We do not have defined waterways, we are deprived of many other solutions that are implied in regulated maritime countries. I've been a pilot for twenty-something years. All this time, I have been trying to help us sit down and define rules that will apply once and for all. WIth the way we do it now, we currently have an unsettled situation at sea and general savagery."

Firefighting intervention, Porto Montenegro, 2018, Photo by Antonela Stjepčević

Let us ignore the incomprehensible fact that the Environmental Protection Agency does not have a sector, not even a single expert, that specifically deals with the sea as an environment. Žarko Lukšić from the Maritime Safety Administration explains which institutions are responsible and included in the system for the protection of the Boka waters:

"The Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Interior formed a joint operational team, which united funds related to marine pollution and search and rescue at sea. A national emergency response plan has been developed. Its revision is in progress, and we expect that plan to be changed by the end of the year, to include the oil plants that are planned for next year.“

Regarding the legal regulations, besides national legislation, our country is a signatory to 15 international directives, conventions, and resolutions, among which the most important is the MARPOL Convention for the Protection of the Sea against Pollution from Ships.

In addition to the Maritime Safety Administration, the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs also has the Port Authority, the Port Authorities of Kotor and Bar, and the Maritime Safety Inspectorate. As Luksic stated, the border police and the Ministry of Defense are included in the control system. However, only one navigation safety inspector is responsible for the entire area from Kotor to Jaz. Inspector Željko Lompar:

"When you look at the safety of navigation through the Bay of Kotor, which is our joint task, not only of the safety inspection but of all citizens, we can freely say that it is exceptional, although I am the only inspector involved. The situation is difficult. It is legally almost impossible to find a colleague. The competition remains open to any engine manager or naval captain who has a Faculty of Maritime sciences. The Safety and Navigation Inspectorate would be so happy to send such a person to carry out inspection work."

Ferry line Lepetane- Kamenari, Source: Boka News

Siniša Luković doesn't agree with Inspector Lompar when it comes to the functionality of the maritime safety system. When asked whether the problem is in the legislation or the coordination of the competent institutions, Luković says:

"The problem lies in the legislation and the coordination of the competent institutions. I think that 25% is in the laws, and 75% is in poor coordination, or the unwillingness of the competent state bodies to do their job in the right way. For me, it is a startling fact that we do not have a networked information system between the Maritime Security Administration, the Maritime Border Police, the Harbor Master's Office, and the Naval Inspection of the Navy (Montenegrin Army). All these institutions are wondering about everything that happens at sea. It is incomprehensible that there is no one information network where any of these bodies will, at any moment, know the situation in our coastal waters.

We are not talking about the waters of the Pacific. We are talking about some 100 kilometers of the Montenegrin coast and one of the most beautiful bays in the world. It is incomprehensible from that position that there is no single coordinated supervision over what is happening in our sea.

On the other hand, there is an unwillingness of certain state bodies to do their job the way they should. Why does the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Traffic allow itself to systematize new positions in the Navigation Safety Inspectorate where the required education is structured so that it does not even necessitate a boat masters exam? Imagine a situation where you are at sea, controlled by someone who does not even have a boat masters exam, which you are obliged to have at any time you wish to go to sea with your boat? What are we talking about here? Is that a serious situation?"

Kotor, Source: b92.net

One of the particular challenges in Boka is the control of the movement of vessels, for which not all the necessary infrastructure is yet in place. 

"The Maritime Safety Administration has already taken measures to expand the monitoring of the Bay of Kotor through the IPA 2017 pre-accession assistance program. It is planned to procure and install the missing sensors that will cover the entire bay. These are funds that are not easy to provide; it is not easy to build a system. However, we have enough experience, the project is already underway, and we hope that at the beginning of 2022, the sensors will be in place," emphasize Lukšić.

In Boka currently, not counting the marina Luštica Bay, there are four maritime border crossings. It means that yachts and boats do not have to seek free traffic just entering our territorial waters, which Žarko Lukšić explains as a requirement for the development of nautical tourism.

"As safety managers, we have to adapt to that. Three large marinas have been built, one is on the open sea (Luštica Bay), two are in the bay (Porto Montenegro and Porto Novi), and we certainly cannot influence that."

Captain Čavor claims that we should set up the system better:

"We need to dedicate more time and do it professionally. To know when the ship sails into the Bay of Kotor, what are its duties. We must introduce a reporting point, a moment when everyone, absolutely everyone who sails into the Bay of Kotor, must contact anyone, the Port Authority, or Bar Radio, anyone. So, we know that certain vessels have sailed into the Bay of Kotor, and we know what the overall situation is in the bay."

In neighboring Croatia, the system works differently. For example, yachts are not allowed to sail from Boka near Ponta Oštro and head to Dubrovnik. They must register at the entrance port of Cavtat and get free traffic. Why we do not regulate the situation similarly remains an open question.

November 23, 2020 - The coronavirus epidemic has had a devastating effect on the female population in Montenegro, according to a study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) "Contribution to the Montenegrin economy and unpaid work and care," which covered the period of the first wave from February to June.

A large number of women lost their jobs. Their salaries were reduced, especially in the private sector.

Traditionally, women in Montenegro participate much more in unpaid work and household care than men, which is an additional problem for economic gender equality.

"The number of unemployed women increased by 3,560 from the end of February to the end of June. That is the majority of the total number. So another official fact is that more women than men lost their jobs," said Milos Vukovic, the author of the research.

The acquired economic independence of female population, warns Vukovic, can become a silent victim of a pandemic.

"The largest increase in unemployed women is in the category of 31 to 40 years, almost a thousand less employed women. As you can see, COVID19 hit the younger female population the hardest," Vukovic pointed out.

The following data does not leave room for optimism either.

"The category of unemployed women looking for work for up to a year, meaning the number of short-term unemployed, has risen by almost 40 percent. It is just the beginning of the COVID19 impact, February-June. We can expect this situation to be even worse next year," he said. Vukovic.

The drop in net earnings for the four months of the virus's operation totals as much as 2.34 million euros.

Here, too, says Vukovic, we have an unequal impact on the female population.

While wages fell in the area of ​​accommodation, agriculture, and trade, there was an increase in health care.

"Private individuals and private companies fired workers, especially women, much faster than women who were in the public sector," Vukovic said.

Society cannot function without unpaid work and care in the household. However, in Montenegro, women are in the lead because as many as 90 percent of them spend at least one hour a day in unpaid care.

"Women earned 122 million euros in cash in three months of the pandemic. That's not money - we expressed in money the value of unpaid work and household care, which is as much as 92 percent more than men," said Danijela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro.

It is estimated that a woman born in Montenegro will spend at least eight years of her life doing unpaid work.

The UNDP warns that the data are an alarm for decision-makers.

 TV Vijesti on UNDP research:

Text by Danilo Ajkovic

November 21, 2020 - The first volume of the edition "Monumenta Montenegrina Vaticana", published by historians Slavko Burzanović and Boban Batrićević, has been published by the Ministry of Culture. It is a valuable collection of documents on the Concordat of the Principality of Montenegro and the Holy See from 1886. "Monumenta Montenegrina Vaticana" is a capital work that testifies to the long and rich history of our state, law, and culture in the broadest sense of the word.

The Ministry of Culture, with the help of the Embassy of Montenegro at the Holy See, recognized the importance of cooperation with the Vatican Archives and took steps to pave the way for Montenegrin researchers. The result of these efforts is the first book from the edition "Monumenta Montenegrina Vaticana", which is a documentation of the agreement between the Principality of Montenegro and the Holy See that regulates the position of the Catholic community in Montenegro. This rare act of an Orthodox monarchy speaks of the modernity of the political thought of King Nikola, who laid the foundations of coexistence with others - said the Minister of Culture, Aleksandar Bogdanović.

He assessed that this edition is the best proof of the inter-confessional relations on which Montenegro rested and on which it should rest still today.

"Illuminating the paths of existence is a duty and a privilege for every researcher and institution. Only a clear picture of who we were allows us to complete the Montenegrin mosaic and answer the questions of who we are today. This book is not only a documentary presentation of the development path of signing the agreement between the two sovereign states but also a confirmation of the development of diplomacy," Minister Bogdanović pointed out.

The edition, prepared in honor of almost 120 years since the contractual relations between the two independent states, as he emphasized, deserves the attention not only of professional and academic circles but also of the wider lay audience.

Everyone will find in it something new and unknown, a tile that proves or refutes the basic assumptions, but also a broader picture of the depth of relations between two different states. A careful reader, leafing through the pages of this book, will better understand the essence of Montenegrin freedom, under whose light there was enough space for everyone. On the other hand, this project speaks of awareness of the importance of collecting historical material about Montenegro in foreign archives, which begins to eliminate a shortcoming in the research of our past - said Bogdanović.

"The book "Monumenta Montenegrina Vaticana" is the first in a series of editions to be printed by the Ministry of Culture, as well as other Montenegrin scientific and cultural institutions, in the coming period. It is worth mentioning that Montenegro is very present in all three major Vatican archives - in addition to the Vatican State Archive and the Fide Propaganda Archive, there is also the Apostolic Archive, which until recently was usually called the "Secret Archive." Accordingly, working with rich documentation will be a challenge for Montenegrin historians and archivists for many years to come.

The organizers consulted material from the archives of Propaganda Fide and material from other funds of the State Archives, as well as material from the State Archives of Montenegro, the Archives and Library Department of the National Museum of Montenegro, and the archives of the Bar Archdiocese. The collection is the result of the collective engagement and cooperation of a large number of people, and the creation of the work in a relatively short time would not have been possible without the organizational support of the Embassy of Montenegro at the Holy See. We especially emphasize the activity of the Director of the State Archives in the Vatican, Dr. Johannes X, whom we thank on this occasion for his exceptional attention and support. All this was possible thanks to the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Monsignor Paul Gallagher. His kindness gave us access to the Vatican archives, which was another expression and confirmation of the excellent relations between Montenegro and the Holy See."

The organizers of the edition expressed special gratitude to the Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović as he initiated and supported the realization of this long-term project, which represents the first step in systematic research and publication of material from the Vatican archives related to the history of the Montenegrin state.

The coronavirus pandemic made it impossible for us to present this significant edition, printed by Cetinje's "Obod," earlier in both Montenegro and the Vatican. We hope that the presentation of the book "Monumenta Montenegrina Vaticana" will be organized with the participants when the conditions make it possible, as this is what the work certainly deserves," reads the Ministry of Culture's statement.

Source: RTV Cetinje

November 20, 2020 - The rights of children in Montenegro are generally respected, although there is still room for improvement, according to Snezana Mijuskovic, Deputy Protector for the Rights of Children, Social Welfare and Youth. On the occasion of International Children's Day, November 20, Mijušković pointed out that, unfortunately, there are still differences in the exercise of these rights in the north, south, and central parts of the country.

"No matter where they live, kids should enjoy the same rights. That is why we have implemented many activities in the previous period to raise children's awareness of their rights to a higher level and educate them on who to turn to in situations when they think that their integrity is threatened, "said Mijuskovic in a statement for Radio Bijelo Polje.

She points out that there is room for progress in almost all areas, and of particular importance, as she emphasized, are education, health care, and access to various services.

"All life issues are of great importance, but the problem of poverty and social exclusion is something that should be under the watchful eye of all institutions. Also, protecting kids who belong to vulnerable groups is especially important, whether they be children with disabilities or those from minority communities. Children of the Roma community specifically have many problems, including those related to their living conditions, that lead to the poorer exercise of their rights, stated the Deputy Protector for the Rights of Children, Social Welfare, and Youth.

What distinguishes this year from all previous ones, according to Mijušković, is the situation in which the whole world has found itself, being that of the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible for children to exercise their rights in the way they did before. According to Mijušković, the epidemic showed shortcomings in certain areas, and they are especially visible, as she said, in the field of education.

"Despite the Ministry of Education and educational institutions' great engagement to ensure the quality functioning of the educational system, numerous shortcomings have been noticed. The transition to online teaching is a novelty that we have all faced and complicates the situation when it comes to education. The particular problem is that not all children have equal access to the Internet, not all technical means, computers, mobile phones, and other devices to follow classes. Printed materials are indeed being delivered to those children, but in practice that puts those pupils in an unequal position," underlined Mijušković.

Source: Radio Bijelo Polje

November 19, 2020 - The celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Health, November 21, which in Boka is celebrated not only by Catholics but also by believers of other confessions, is a real example of this area's ecumenical characteristics.

On the same day, Orthodox believers celebrate the day of the Holy Archangel Michael, and Kotor and Tivat commemorate the Municipality's Day in honor of their liberation from the occupying power in the Second World War. It is unlikely that Our Lady of Health will impact the epidemiological situation on her day, but this year it may be more than usually relevant to recall her cult in Boka, which arrived through Venice.

The cult of Our Lady of Health is related to the plague epidemic that reigned in the Middle Ages, which killed many people and devastated the economy. The health and economic situation in the context of the time is therefore in some ways comparable to our current circumstances. Then, Venice asked the Mother of God for help, and when the plague stopped, the Senate decided to build a church on the Grand Canal called Santa Maria Della Salute, i.e., Our Lady of Health, for the Blessed Virgin Mary, who pulled Venice out of its horror.

The cult spread to Dalmatia, where one of the most beautiful churches of Our Lady of Health was built in Zadar. Later history connected it with Boka - Vicko Zmajević from Perast built a central altar in the 18th century, which still adorns this church. Churches of Our Lady of Health exist in Split, Dubrovnik, and Kotor.

The Church of Our Lady of Health at the Fortress of San Giovanni in the minds of the citizens of Kotor then, and today, remains extremely important and is a kind of pilgrimage church that is part of the collective consciousness of the whole of Kotor and the Bay.

"This is still one of the most beloved shrines of Our Lady in the Diocese of Kotor. On the feast of Our Lady of Health on November 21, hundreds of believers make a pilgrimage there, which is a lot considering that this does not include those who want to, only those who can"- it was pointed out on the occasion of the promotion of the book "Kotor Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Health" by the late Vicar of the Kotor Diocese, Don Anton Belan.

The Church of Our Lady of Health in Kotor, located halfway to San Giovanni, dates from the 15th century but was rebuilt over time. It is first mentioned in archival documents in 1518.

It has a deep open narthex in the shape of a Gothic arch and is vaulted with a Gothic vault. The rest of the building belongs to the Baroque period. It has a small gothic rosette on the front. The entrance door is made of wrought iron and was mentioned as early as 1745. The Church of Our Lady of Health has modest dimensions of 9.75 x 4 m, and the narthex 3.06 x 4.65 m. It is paved with red and white stone from Đurić near Kamenar, from which part of the pavement in the church of St. Mark in Venice was built. The church has a sacristy with a stone vault, mentioned in the 18th century. Five steps raise the altar space.

Our Lady of Health Church, Painting by Nedeljko Simanić

The Church of Our Lady of Health watches over the city, completing nature and man's magnificent architecture. The bell tower was completed on March 10, 1727, when Bishop Hyacinth Zanobetti gave St. Gaudencia and Veneranda relics to be placed at the foot of the cross of the bell tower. The bell tower contains three bells made in 1930 in the famous bell foundry De Poli from Vittorio Veneta (Italy), founded in 1453. The bell tower is 18 meters high with a newly erected cross. It has an octagonal stone dome with prominent ribs.

The church is dedicated to the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the temple. It is celebrated in a particular way as Our Lady of Health on November 21. In the church, there is the tomb of the famous Kotor family Bolica, and under the narthex is the tomb of another Kotor citizen, Count Anton Luković.

The Church of Our Lady of Health can be reached by a picturesque path that is adorned by four small chapels, with 520 steps to climb.

"The Church of Our Lady of Health warned, and in a way still does today, that the mighty walls and courage of the defenders alone are not enough to protect the city, but God's protection is also needed with her motherly intercession," the Kotor diocese said.

At the end of this story of the famous sanctuary of Boka's people, we can indeed tell you: whether you are believers or not, whether on the occasion of November 21 or at some other time - head to San Giovanni and find this church. While enjoying the atmosphere of Our Lady of Health's spacious porch, in the archives also called Our Lady of Rest, you can appreciate one of the most beautiful views of the Bay of Kotor. It is also an opportunity to pause for a moment to feel the history of the ancient city and its citizens' destiny through time.

Cities with archives that preserve the teachings of centuries, such as Kotor, know that ugly times come and go. Kotor has defeated numerous epidemics in the past. Some will say this is thanks to the intercession of Our Lady of Health. If that is indeed true, may her feast bring us some help also this year.

Source: Kotor Diocese