Competent inspectors must do their job because there are more than enough reasons, evidence and space to temporarily suspend works on the highway and to make economic compensation at the expense of ecological assets provided by the River Tara," stated the gathering of citizens "Do not kill Tara", which was organized at the mouth of Kolasin.

The reason for the citizens' gathering is the fact that the river has been completely blurred for seven days, as well as photographs and videos from the road construction site, "which testify to the devastation of the river". All this, organizers of protests say, requires urgent intervention by the competent institutions.

From today’s gathering in Kolasin (Photo: Dragana Ščepanović)

"No one of us is against the construction of roads and development, but these roads must be made so that in the long run, they do not threaten nature and our lives. Tara is not only a Montenegrin but also a European brand and, instead of developing thanks to it, we are destroying it. Also, its tributaries are endangered, they are suffering damage that is irreversible in an ecological sense," said Vuk Ikovic, a biologist from the Organization KOD.

According to him, the damage was done when the permits were issued and when the institutions did not listen to their professional engagement. Then, recalls Ikovic, was said and proven, but also the mentioned the practice from more developed countries, according to which a road must not pass near a river flow.

From today’s gathering in Kolasin (Photo: Dragana Ščepanović)

"If it has to, then the road was supposed to cut the river in one place. We did the opposite, we introduced the road to the trough and even made a loop in the river Tara, "Ikovic said. Today's protest is the first on which it has been asked to protect Tara from the devastation

SRK "Tara and Moraca" - "Although we are present at the gathering, we are not participants of the same."

Although it has been announced that the protest is civil, with the support of the organization KOD, members of the Managing Board and the fishermen's service of SRK "Tara and Moraca", who manage the waters in Kolasin, have distanced themselves from participating. Some of the members of the club were at a gathering, but they asked the journalists "not to count them as participants”.

"We do not want to participate, because no one has called us, we are not organizers, we are the most damaged because it is our fish fund that is endangered. However, we believe that the problem can be resolved through institutions, for example, the Fisheries Directorate supports us and we have excellent cooperation with them," said Radosav Puletic from the management board of that club. SRK explained that their statements to the media last week were misinterpreted.

As they say, their statement "that there is no purpose anymore for recreational fishing or that fishermen protect Tara" meant that nobody was interested in fish in the foggy waters. As Puletic says, fishermen's service will continue to protect the river as much as it is in their power. He recalled that the club also runs a court dispute against CRBC, which carries out the works on the highway.

Text by Dragana Scepanovic, on July 21st, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Taxi associations will have to clearly display their taxi driver's identification so that users of their services know who drives them and whether they have permission to operate the vehicle. In addition, the driver's duty will be to have special working clothes.

These novelties are envisaged by the amendments to the Law on Road Transport and are introduced to eliminate unfair competition and suppress the gray economy in this sector. Amendments to the law were discussed at the last session of the Government's Competitiveness Council in early July.

In the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Transport, it was said that new legal solutions were prepared after taxi operators demanded the removal of the gray economy and unfair competition.

"The Montenegrin Trade Union - Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro addressed the Prime Minister Dusko Markovic, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System Milutin Simovic, with the request to form working groups that will have the task of analyzing the problems in performing car taxi transport. After that, Osman Nurkovic, Minister of Transport, formed a working group composed of representatives of state authorities whose responsibilities relate to the activities of passenger car taxis and representatives of the Trade Union who prepared the Information on the analysis of the situation in the activity of the taxi transportation with proposals of measures and conclusions for solving the problem. The Government adopted this information at the end of December last year, and one of the proposed measures is drafting of amendments to the Law on Road Transport in order to eliminate unfair competition that is predominantly present in car taxis, but also in other forms of public passenger transport," it was explained from the Ministry.

The working group consisted of representatives of the Ministry, the Chamber of Commerce and car taxi companies who perform this activity as entrepreneurs and legal entities, and the draft law was announced at a public hearing on February 15th.

"The most important amendments are related to specifying the documentation that must be placed in the vehicle when performing a car taxi service.

Special attention is paid to documentation proving that the driver is employed and registered with the car taxi company (employment contract, tax registration), as well as the obligatory possession of driver's identification card, which must be displayed in a visible place in the vehicle so that transport users know who drives them and whether someone has permission to drive the taxi. In addition, a legal basis for prescribing work clothes for drivers is defined to avoid situations that certain car taxis companies are distorting reputation for their colleagues and Montenegro as a recognized tourist destination," the Ministry said.

The taxi identification card, according to the amendment proposal, must contain a driver's license for driving the vehicle, a certificate of medical capability, and passed exam on knowing around the city.

A novelty is also "rent a car" with the driver

The novelty in the law will be the introduction of the "rent a car" service with the driver. Such a mode of transport can only be carried out by a high-class passenger car or a luxury passenger vehicle under six years old, with a catalog value of more than 30,000 euros.

"We have identified a new mode of transport and defined the conditions under which it can be carried out, which is to rent a vehicle with a driver - a limo service. This mode of transport was recognized by the Law on Tourism, but it was not properly regulated and it represented largely unfair competition for car taxis and for companies operating long-distance regular and non-scheduled passenger services," the Ministry said.

The "rent a car" driver will have to be at least 21 years old and must have a driving license of category B for at least three years.

Dispatch centers are introduced into legal procedures

New solutions also define the dispatching centers that mediate in contracting car taxis and stipulate the conditions under which they perform the activity.

The Ministry explained that this was done in order to protect themselves from illegal entities that even at the global level were recognized as unfair competition and operating in the gray zone without the possibility of supervision.

"This phenomenon has not been largely identified in Montenegro, but we felt it necessary to prevent such deviant phenomena."

The dispatch center will have to have a work permit from the municipality on whose territory it operates, it will be obliged to provide services only to licensed car taxis and to allocate the driving only to vehicles with a valid copy of the license.

Text by Marija Mirjacic, on July 21st, 2019, read more at Vijesti

“Dizzle”, the yacht of Amancio Ortega, owner of the fashion brand “Zara”, is anchored in Montenegro.

The vessel, 67 meters long and worth about $80 million, is located in Porto Montenegro.

The yacht has nine cabins and it can accommodate ten people. It was made in 2012.

There is a small chance you will bump into to Ortega in the streets of Tivat or some city on our coast, since he, like most of the rich and famous in our country, is staying in secrecy and avoiding public places.

Ortega is from Spain, and his fortune is estimated at $65 billion and he is the richest European. The brand “Zara” was founded in 1974 and is one of the most popular brands in the fashion world.

Text by B.V., on July 21st, 2019, read more at CdM

The mountain Lukavica and the place of Luka Bojovic this year was the gathering place of all those who like to enjoy the beautiful nature, but also traditional dishes. The eco-camp "Tomić" NGO "Morakovo" organized the manifestation "Tasting of traditional dishes of Krs region" for the second consecutive year. The region Krs includes four municipalities from Montenegro, Niksic, Herceg Novi, Kotor and Tivat and 22 from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The aim of the event is to promote traditional dishes from the region Krs, as well as the tourist valorization of the eastern part of the Niksic municipality, which is Zupa hollow with surrounding katuni and parts of neighboring municipalities Kolasin and Danilovgrad. All this will greatly contribute to the economic development of the municipality of Niksic. However, the main goal is to connect the people of the region," said Marina Kovacevic from NGO "Morakovo".

And that people are around the table is the right example of the mentioned manifestation.

Barbeque Lukavica (Photo: Svetlana Mandic)

Ilija Runjevac, the chef of "Slow Food" in Trebinje, did not hide the pleasure that the visitors of the event will be able to taste the beans “poljak”.

"It is specific and characteristic to Herzegovina and was almost extinct. This bean has plenty of minerals and proteins and it does not bloat as the other beans, so its qualities are very good for the body. The beans got its name per Petar’s files near Trebinje where it was planted. It's best served with dried meat, but it's also very tasty as fasting food. It is a beautiful ambience, people are in the mood and I hope that they will enjoy the culinary specialties," said Runjevac.

He received help from Darija Radusinovic, a six-year-old from Niksic, who realized by the smell that she needs to see Trebinje’s table.

"I helped the chef prepare the best dish. I want it to be fantastic and that everyone tastes how good it is to eat," said the cook.

Ivan Micek, son-in-law of Niksic, originally from Slovenia, who has been living in the city under Trebjesa for more than three decades, took care of the "domestic table”.

"This year, in the mobile kitchens used by the former JNA, we are preparing a colorful bean, goulash (stew) and cabbage (rastan). The organizers of the event decided not to change the chef, so I do not know if it was for the meals or the cooks. The hardest thing is preparation and the cooking itself is easy," Micek said.

Joel Tuil from Paris, who came with his wife Vladana Bajovic and his six-year-old daughter, Sasa Bajovic Tuil, confirmed that he was rightly entrusted with a mixing spoon.

"We come to Montenegro every year and I always try to taste new specialties. Last year I had an excellent “kacamak” right here. Now I have the opportunity to try the beans. It is great. And the French are preparing similar beans. I hope that I will have a chance to come again next year and try another dish," said the Parisian.

Gordana Radovanovic, from Trebinje's “Slow Food”, said that they are a branch of the world movement that promotes the preservation of local food, especially autochthonous products threatened to be extinct. She said that attention should be focused on small producers and domestic products.

The manifestation, which gathered a large number of guests this year, was opened by the Vice President Sonja Nikcevic, who said that events like this contribute to the development of tourist destinations, and especially encourages the fact that many young people visit them.

Among the visitors were also three boys, Vuk, Bozidar and Ivan who came to Lukavica on horses and captured the visitor's attention.

Text by Svetlana Mandic, on July 20th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

In Berane, in anticipation of the Municipality day, a tourist house opened, in which there is a souvenir shop next to the info tourist desk. The director of the Tourist Organization Berane, Ivan Radevic, explained that the house was made as part of the project “Let’s be creative”, which the Municipality of Berane realized in cooperation with the Employment Service of Montenegro.

"This project aimed at professional rehabilitation and active employment policy for all the unemployed, especially those with disabilities", said Radevic.

The value of the project “Let's be creative” is EUR 65,000, and the partners at its realization with the Municipality Berane and the Employment Agency were High school "Vukadin Vukadinovic" and the "Tourist organization of Berane".

The Director of TOB expressed satisfaction that within the framework of this project a tourist house was built.

"This house is in an extraordinary location, in the city center, right across from the Municipality building. Significantly, we have not had one place in a city for the sale of souvenirs so far, but tourists usually came to our offices for these needs and we practically offered them something that we had free of charge. By opening the house, Berane's tourist offer has been significantly improved," Radevic said.

The Tourist house and the souvenir shop were officially opened by the Mayor of Berane Dragoslav Scekic, towards the Municipality's Day tomorrow, marked in the memory of July 21, 1941, when the first National Liberation Committee in the enslaved Europe was formed in this city at the beginning of the Second World War.

Text by Tufik Softic, on July 20th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The 17th Fašinada Cup International Sailing Regatta will take place on 21st and 22nd July in the Bay of Kotor. The regatta will start from Perast at 12 noon on 21st July, and finish in Tivat, at Porto Montenegro. On Day 2, crews start in Tivat and sail to Perast, where the regatta finishes.

The winner of the 17th Fašinada Cup will be announced on 22nd July, on the island of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospe od Škrpjela), starting from 8 pm. The organisers of the Fašinada Cup International Regatta are Sailing Club Lahor, Dobrota, together with Porto Montenegro (Porto Montenegro Yacht Club) and Unibrand. This year’s regatta is supported by the Kotor Tourist Organisation, Kotor Souvenirs, Miro & Sons and Fleka.

SC Lahor is grateful to all the sponsors, the local community of Perast for their support, Dušan Vuleković for directing the promotional video for the 17th Fašinada Cup, sculptor Goran Moškov for the winner’s prize and Unibrand for creating the brand visuals for the event.

“The Fašinada Cup Sailing Regatta takes place on the day of the biggest public ceremony in the Boka Bay, the ‘Fašinada’. This is a tradition dating back to 1452 whereby inhabitants of Perast and many others from Boka Bay drop stones into the sea around the island of Our Lady of the Rocks to protect it from erosion. Below Perast, threading through the Verige Strait to Tivat, aiming midway between Perast’s two reefs, around 60 white sails will take to the water from various types of sailing boats and craft, recalling the famed tradition of Perast and the entire Boka Bay, along with its sailing heritage. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Perast alone had an armada of over 100 sailing vessels, and SC Lahor of Dobrota has inherited the Boka Bay tradition of that era, organising the Fašinada Cup for the seventeenth time. Year after year, the regatta has brought together around 200 competitors from Montenegro and abroad, and is also extremely popular among international sailors. The competition is the largest maritime event in Montenegro and the Southern Adriatic, alongside Boka Night (Bokeljska noć). The winners will receive prizes of stylised figures in stone, the work of well-known sculptor Goran Moškov Gonzo, which will be awarded on the island of Our Lady of the Rocks,” say organisers.

20 July 2019 - Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić recently made an unannounced visit to Debeli brijeg, the main border crossing between Croatia and Montenegro, and on that occasion spoke with Montenegro's border police officers and tourist intending to get firsthand information about the traffic flow at the border at the peak of the tourist season, as reported the Government of Montenegro.

"Today I have made an unannounced tour of the Debeli brijeg border crossing and I was assured that the Border Police officers are doing their job professionally, with great will and with great kindness," Minister Nuhodžić said, adding that the tourists with whom he talked at the border crossing confirmed this.

"This is very important because the border police are the first to meet tourists visiting our country. Tourists told me the same about the work of our police officers - they find them very professional and kind," the Interior Minister stressed.

20 July 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović received the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia Mitja Močnik on a farewell visit, and on that occasion gave him a medal for merit on behalf of the state of Montenegro.

The President of Montenegro emphasized that the high state recognition is a result of the exceptional interstate cooperation and support and understanding of Slovenia, which as such dates back to the Yugoslav times, and is particularly intensified in the period after the restoration of independence.

"Emphasizing that interstate connections are always made by people, the ambassador of Slovenia was awarded medal as a mark of respect for personal professional and friendly contribution to the improvement of relations and a full understanding of Montenegro's need to build its European future," said Đukanović in the announcement of the Office of the President of Montenegro.

"Thanks to that, the voice of Montenegro has also been heard from friends like you, the representative of an EU member state, who has a special sensitivity to Montenegro's aspirations, when we are moving forward towards the EU, believing in the perspective of the European perspective," said President of Montenegro.

Đukanović also pointed to an appropriate relationship of trust between Montenegro and Slovenia with high marks for the quality of bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of economy, and its value in terms of adopting new knowledge and standards. Special gratitude to Slovenia for the development aid that continuously provides to Montenegro.

Ambassador Močnik, with gratitude for his recognition, emphasized that he is honored to have served his country in Montenegro and contributed to the improvement of interstate cooperation.

"Medal for merits is also a recognition for my predecessors and the state officials of Slovenia in continuity," Močnik said.

With the assessment that Montenegro deserves the affection of the future structure of the EC, the ambassador of Slovenia said that the country will continue to give full contribution to the integration of Montenegro into the EU.

Read more news about politics in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

19 July 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System of Montenegro Milutin Simović hosted today the United States Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Rising Reinke.

In the report of the Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro, it was noted that Montenegro and the United States maintain excellent bilateral and partnership relations at all levels. Deputy Prime Minister Simović and United States Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Rising Reinke agreed that the circumstances of the existence of stable, allied relations between the two countries in the coming period should be used to boost economic and trade ties further, and to identify and implement concrete business and investment projects.

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Milutin Simović presented the measures the Government of Montenegro has successfully implemented in the fiscal consolidation process, thus creating a favourable business and investment environment, and the plans for further economic development, stressing the Government's willingness to undertake activities, in cooperation with the United States Embassy and Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke, to draw attention of the United States investors to the potential of projects' implementation in Montenegro. Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović referred to energy, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure as particularly attractive investment fields.

Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke pointed out that Montenegro has taken steps towards strengthening its economy, overall stability and increasing the standard of living. She added that work on improving the business climate should be continued, which would enable a greater presence of the United States investors, which is one of her priorities.

Read more news about politics in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

19 July 2019 - A new five-star tourist complex is soon to be built in Ulcinj, on the Mavrijan hill, near Valdanos, and it will be able to receive between 3.000 and 5.000 guests. This was announced by the president of the municipality of Ulcinj, Ljoro Nrekić, during the public presentation of Mavrijan Luxury Resorts and Villas made by Ing-invest studio from Podgorica.

“This project is beneficial for both Ulcinj and Montenegro. The value of this investment would be between 600 million euros and 1 billion euros,” said Nrekić.

Interested investors from Qatar and Egypt have already scheduled meetings with the management of the municipality. The new exclusive resort will have bungalows and more than 2.900 accommodation units in four hotel facilities, as CdM reports.

As Chief Town Architect, Aleksandar Dabović, said, a marina with 147 berths was planned to be built on the Udovica bay. It will also have a promenade, helipad and panoramic restaurant, as well as access to amphibian and hydro-planes.

“The resort melts into the ambient, completely following the configuration of the terrain and a hotel, and in the middle of complex, it reminds you of a cruiser. Pools and sports fields are part of the resort and one of the hotels will be intended for a casino and guests who are keen on such kind of fun. They will have at least 100 exclusive accommodation units at their disposal, two separate panoramic lifts and a helipad at the hotel’s rooftop. Privacy will be guaranteed,” said Dabović.

Villas, 105 of them, positioned in three rows and covering 350 square meters each, have been designed for a family and they have all the necessary amenities, inclusive of parking places and pools.

“We will do our best to put this idea into effect,” said the first man of the municipality of Ulcinj.

Chief town Architect set out the details of this project and said it had an ideal positioning and also added that occupancy coefficient was very low. Green areas will make up 82%.

The complex will be situated outside the town core, while the first hotel, with 32.000 square meters gross, has 3.848 square meters of open pools and 2.675 square meters of open sport centers. Hotel B is s central resort with 652 accommodation units, 47.800 square meters of gross area and offers a 2.500 square meters of pools and 2.546 square meters of fields. Hotel C is a resort as well.

Read more news about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.