22 May 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović received credentials from newly appointed, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Egypt, HE. Said Hindam, Georgia, HE. Zaal Gogsadze, Republic of Indonesia, HE. Muhammad Chandra Widya Yudha, Federative Republic of Brazil HE. Eduardo Botelho Barbosa and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam HE. Dang Tran Phong.

After receiving their credentials, President Đukanović received the ambassadors individually and welcomed them to Montenegro and wished them successful diplomatic missions in mutual interest.

The President informed the new ambassadors about Montenegro’s stable and dynamic way towards achieving strategic goals, stressing that we want to be part of a developed European community and that modern Montenegrin society is based on the European value system. He stressed that Montenegro is committed to its reforms and democratic and economic development, which is recognized in the international community primarily by Montenegro's accession to NATO and positive assessments of progress in European integration.

In conversation with the Ambassador of the Republic of Egypt, the President pointed to the traditionally good relations between the two countries on the basis of the partnership from the time of the establishment of the non-aligned movement and the values and traditions we inherit. In this spirit, we are very open to promoting good relations between the two nations and states, the President said. Montenegro, he said, is following the situation in the region around Egypt and highly appreciates Egypt's responsible attitude in relation to the issues of the migrant crisis.

During the talks, it was estimated that at the bilateral level, Montenegro and Egypt have opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the field of economy, agriculture, tourism, maritime transport through the connection of two ports and culture. In this context, the intensification of political contacts at the highest level was encouraged, as well as the establishment of the practice of regular foreign policy consultations. Following a positive example of cooperation with Orascom, a stronger presence of investors from that country in Montenegro was encouraged. Ambassador Hindam emphasized that his mandate as the Ambassador in Montenegro is an honor, appreciating the successes of our country and the role of President Đukanović in these processes. As a contribution to the creation of stronger relations between the two countries, he emphasized the initiative to form a business council and a parliamentary cooperation society.

In his conversation with Ambassador Gogsadze, the President of Montenegro expressed satisfaction with the relations between Montenegro and Georgia, stressing that the experience of ambassadors in the countries of the region will be a positive impetus for further development of cooperation. Joint foreign policy goals have put two countries closer to each other in the past period, Đukanović said, recalling Montenegro's support to Georgia in the path of consistent and sovereign achievement of strategic goals. In addition to political, Montenegro also wants to improve economic cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, it was estimated that the contractual base should be strengthened in order to create the conditions for connecting business communities and chambers of commerce.

With satisfaction for the results of cooperation in the field of defense, interest was expressed for better traffic connections and mutual representation of cultural heritage and creativity of Montenegro and Georgia.

Ambassador of Georgia, said that he will proudly perform the function of the ambassador in Montenegro and thanked for the support of our country in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. The two countries are connected with similar traditions and history, and with the opening of the honorary consulate in Podgorica, there are good bases for joint projects in the fields of agriculture and tourism, the ambassador said.

Montenegro and Indonesia have very good relations, and chances for their further improvement are recognized in the field of economy and tourism, said the President Đukanović. In the spirit of friendship we are closely following the events in Indonesia, he said, welcoming the high level of development of that country on the global map. The first step in strengthening the economic ties between the two countries is the preparation of agreements in the field of economy, said the President.

Ambassador Yudha thanked for the warm welcome of the Montenegrin people and institutions, stressing his readiness to work diligently to valorize significant potential for cooperation, primarily in trade and tourism.

President Đukanović welcomed the newly-appointed Ambassador of Brazil, expressing satisfaction with good relations without open issues, as well as potentials for enhancing cooperation, especially through the exchange of experiences in energy and tourism. With the already established cultural cooperation, political contacts should be dynamized in the future, the President said. He welcomed the positive processes in that country, in particular the departure from the recession and the improvement of Brazil's relations with the most developed countries of the world and the NATO Alliance to which Montenegro belongs.

Ambassador Barbosa expressed satisfaction with President’s dedicated relationship and knowledge of the current situation in his country, saying that the regain of the Brazilian economy strength is an opportunity to boost co-operation with Montenegro, which is a personal challenge for him. Recalling the friendship of the two countries, he pointed to the high quality of cooperation in the multilateral framework.

President Đukanović also spoke with the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and said that good relations between the two countries can be further improved by joint initiatives. He welcomed the efforts of that country on a regional and international level in the promotion of peace, stability and development. Such a principle is the heritage of Montenegro, which is not limited by geographical size to strongly promote high standards and multiethnic democracy, Đukanović said.

It is jointly assessed that the two countries can cooperate in economy and tourism on the principles of a healthy environment, the production of energy from renewable sources and the production of organic food. In that sense, the experience of Montenegro and its prestigious position on the tourist map can be valuable to Vietnam, said Ambassador Phong.

22 May 2019 - The solo concert of pianist Nikola Vučković will be held in the concert hall of the Music School of Herceg Novi on May 24th at 7.30PM. The programme will, among many others, include pieces of composers Ravel and Liszt.

After finishing the Elementary Music School in Budva, Nikola Vučković started studying at the secondary Music School in Subotica in the class of Professor Matija Molcer. He continued his education at the Music Academy in Novara, Italy, in the class of Professor Marian Mike, where he graduated with honors in 2002. He also studied at the Music Academy in Cetinje in the class of professor Boris Kraljević, in which he graduated in 2004. He has a master's degree in the class of Professor Vladimir Bockarjev.

He has been improving in the country and abroad with famous pedagogues such as Dmitri Bashkirov, Sandor Falvai, Noel Flores, Vladimir Ovcinjikov, Kemal Gekić, Aleksandar Serdar, etc.

In addition to his remarkable performances at domestic and international competitions, he performed at over 250 concerts as a soloist and chamber musician in Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, Austria, France, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany. Among the significant performances in Montenegro, recitals should be singled out in the National Theater of Montenegro, the Royal Theater Zetski Dom in Cetinje, the Park Hall in Herceg Novi, City Theater in Budva, and at Barski Letopis, as well as at the one of the most important ones - concert at the National Theater of Montenegro, which he performs with the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Radovan Papović, who also represents his orchestral debut.

Out of his concerts abroad, the most significant are the opening of the "Verbanja Musica" festival (Italy) - on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Chopin, the city of Martelag (Venice), a concert in Milano for the most influential politicians of Forza Italia, a recital in Naples, a performance at the Bosendorfer Hall, in Vienna and in the Royal Casino in Baden, at the Army Hall in Sarajevo, "Olivier Messian" in Paris etc. So far, he has recorded a large number of notable performances that were recorded and broadcast by TV stations: RTS, RTCG, RTV Novi Sad, RTV Budva, Rai Uno (Italy), as well as radio stations of classical music "Bela Bartok" (Hungary). Since 2015 he is a permanent member of the duo "2Soul(o)s" with prominent violinist Dušica Kordić. He is currently engaged as director of the Music School in Budva.

Source: Radio Herceg Novi

Njegos's clock, which is listed on the list of treasury values ​​sent to the National Bank of Yugoslavia, signed in 1975 by the then director of Cetinje Museum, Stanislav Rako Vujosevic, is exhibited in the vault of the Cetinje Monastery, said the National Museum of Montenegro.

Last year, a technician in the information center of the National Museum Aleksandar Berkuljan filed a criminal complaint, stating that Njegosev's clock, ornamented with brilliants, disappeared from the National Museum.

The museum stressed that his disappearance caused the Montenegrin public's interest, pointing out that Njegos's clock was neither registered in the books of the National Museum's inventory nor in Njegosev's museum.

"In the book by Jevto Milovic," Njegos in picture and words "there is a photo of the clock with the legend below - Njegos's room clock, but without explaining where it was shot or where it is placed. We remind you that in Njegos's Museum there is a clock from the 19th century, which was donated to the National Museum of Montenegro by the antiquarian Dusan Ivanovic from Paris, who visited Cetinje in 1986 and, as it was then written in the press, sent this valuable gift one year later to the National Museum of Montenegro," said the National Museum.

As stated, the fact is that these two clocks were not recorded in the statutory books, which created additional problems in the work of the Audit Commission.

"The National Museum of Montenegro will, in the forthcoming period, carefully review all the recorded and reported deficiencies of museum material, in order to initiate processes in the competent authorities for all the missing items," said this institution.

Text by RTCG, on May 21st, 2019, read more at CdM

In Ljubljana, in the Slovenian folk auditorium, the work on a performance featuring the working title "Talks on Love" began. It is one of the most important co-productions in Montenegrin culture, between the Royal Theater Zetski Dom and the Slovene National Audience, which for decades is the most stable theater of exceptional aesthetic refinement, which has long since crossed over the borders of Europe. 

Photo: Katja Kodba

The performance is an authorial project by one of the leading Slovenian directors Jernej Lorenc, and will be performed first in Cetinje on September 14th, followed by the premier in Ljubljana on October 12th.

In the play participates the actors from Slovenia-Marusa Majer, Zvezdana Novakovic and Janez Skof; Montenegro - Srdjan Grahovac, Karmen Bardak and Jelena Laban; Albania - Krist Lieshi and Matia Luppa, while actors from Italy will join the project in Ljubljana in the coming period.

Photo: Katja Kodba

The working process of the show will take place in Ljubljana from 20^th May to 28^th June, after which the team will continue working in Cetinje from 21st August to 14th September 2019, when the premier in Montenegro will take place.

Photo: Katja Kodba

The head of the team is Director of SNG Drama Ljubljana, Igor Samobor and Director of the Royal Theater Zetski dom Lidija Dedovic. The team of the show is made of JERNEJ LORENCI, playwright and co-author: MATIC STARINA, assistant director and producer: JUS ZIDAR, stage designer: BRANKO HOJNIK, costume designer: BELINDA RADULOVIC, author of music: BRANKO ROZMAN, choreographer: GREGOR LUSTEK, design of lights: JERNEJ LORENCI, BRANKO HOJNIK, JUS ZIDAR.

Photo: Katja Kodba

The show is a collaboration between the team of the Slovenian folk auditorium and the Royal Theater Zetski dom.

This co-production is realized within the interregional project ADNICH (IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro), which is being implemented from 2018-2020, and is primarily concerned with the protection and promotion of the region of the South Adriatic.

Photo: Katja Kodba

The show above is the second activity of the Zetski Dom in the framework of this project, after the show "The Rebellion of the Sailors" in August 2018. The ADNICH project brings together five partners from three mentioned countries and the Royal Theater Zetski dom is the leader of the project.

Text by CdM, on May 22nd, 2019, read more at CdM

Plastic bags will soon be history, and in the future Montenegrin consumers will carry goods bought at the market as they once used to do - in wicker baskets, linen or paper bags. This is how the imminent future might look if the proposed Waste Management Bill gets approved, which is now due to the working group. The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism (MORT) organized a public debate on the Draft Law in August. After that, several articles were added to the draft, including the ban on plastic bags "used for placing goods available to consumers". Plastic bags, as stated in the Proposal, will only be permitted if the packaging in which the product is packed and if the use of such items is "necessary for security reasons". Such packaging, as proposed, should be banned six months from the date of entry into force of the law. The bill also envisages misdemeanor fines ranging from one thousand to 40 thousand euros for companies, but for those which sell them, and not those which are placed on the market of disposable plastic bags. Before the public debate, the draft law foresaw introducing fees for a certain type of bags from the beginning of 2020, and to reduce the level of annual consumption by up to 40 plastic bags per person, a plan of the European Union envisaged that from January 1^st next year the number of plastic bags will be limited to 90 per capita, or 40 from 2025.

According to the Initiative #ocistime, whose petition for banning plastic bags is underway, every citizen of Montenegro uses about 730 disposable plastic bags annually.

The initiative for banning the plastic bags was launched two years ago by Zero Waste Montenegro (ZWM). In July 2017, they started a national petition requesting the abolition of plastic bags, and at the beginning of September of the same year, after submitting the 3,000 signatures of Montenegrin citizens, they received a response from the authorities and convinced that Montenegro was ready for the change. Disappointing that nothing had happened in practice, in cooperation with the #ocistime initiative a few months ago, they launched a new petition. A few days ago, the Civic Movement URA supported the ban on plastic bags.

With a new legal solution, if accepted, in addition to the ban on plastic bags, from 2025, a number of other disposable plastic products will be banned. This will prevent the use of cotton sticks, other than those used for medical purposes; it will be forbidden to use plastic eating utensils, plates, straws. There is also a ban on plastic bottles that are not manufactured by at least 35 percent of the recycled material, i.e., those which cannot be recycled.

It will be permitted to use some disposable plastic products under the condition that they contain a label on the method of disposal and the message of negative environmental impacts arising from the improper disposal of the waste product.

In March, the European Parliament, with the majority of its deputies, voted in favor for a directive prohibiting placing disposable plastic items on the market from 2021.

Montenegro's Proposed Waste Management Law foresees the introduction of a deposit-return system for waste packaging. It is a system that has been used for certain brands of beer for decades but does not include plastic bottles for water and non-alcoholic beverages or other types of foreign brands.

ZWM reminds that part of this system also included bottles of wine and mineral water, but their collection has long been suspended. The deposit amount, according to the Waste Management Bill Proposal, cannot exceed 30 percent of the amount of the sales price of the product. It is anticipated that the Government for the deposit refund system may set up a business with a legal personality. ZWM explains that in the system of reimbursement of deposits, recycling costs are borne by producers and consumers, not by the state and taxpayers.

How the deposit system works 

The ZWM initiative explained on their official page how the deposit system should function. In this chain, the retailers pay distributers or beverage suppliers for each purchased can or bottle. The consumer pays a deposit when purchasing a beverage, and when the empty can or bottle is returned to a retailer, purchasing center or bottle vendor, the deposit is refunded. The deposit of the merchant will be refunded from the distributor at an optional processing fee.

New obligations for fishers

The Bill, in relation to the Draft, has added an article to treat the waste of fishing tools.

Thus, since 2025, the recycling of plastic fishing gear is envisaged, it is also possible to introduce contributions to promote the fishing gear intended for reuse and recycling and to add a depository system for waste fishing gear.

Text by Damira Kalac, on May 23rd, 2019, read more at Vijesti

May 23, 2019 - Kotor International Mountain Car Race - MBAT Kotor 2019  "Tripo Bukilica Memorial Race" organized by the Motor Sports Club AMSK Kotor, will be held on 1 and 2 June.

May 23, 2019 - Mountaineering Club Subra from Herceg Novi this weekend organizes the jubilee 20th Orjen Marathon, and in cooperation with the Orjen Development and Protection Agency prepares an attractive program for all generations, which will last from 24-26 May.

22 May 2019 - At the IMEX Fair, which takes place from May 21 to 23, Montenegro was awarded as one of the top eight MICE destinations for 2019.

National Tourism Organization of Montenegro is currently exhibiting at the IMEX Fair, the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. Based on the evaluation of over 450 European professionals from the congress industry, Montenegro ranks among the eight best MICE destinations for 2019! According to the results that Montenegro achieved, the "Pro Sky Destination Award 2019" was presented to the representatives of the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro.

Pro Sky, a German international corporation specialized in customized jet travel, recently published the Annual Pro Sky Destination Report 2019. This report covers the most beautiful destinations, event industry, and travel trends based on the responses of 456 European survey participants. A recent trend that is in the focus of this year’s report is MICE destinations – destinations for meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions.

The interest in Montenegro in this segment of tourism offer records continuous growth throughout the years. According to the currently organized and contracted events, an increase of not less than 10% in comparison to the previous year is expected by the end of the year.

During the three days of the IMEX Fair, over a hundred meetings with event organizers from the markets of Germany, Russia, Poland, Great Britain, France, America, etc. were held at the Montenegrin stand. During these meetings, the Montenegrin MICE offer and possibilities for organization of events in Montenegro were presented.

"IMEX", one of the most important European fairs of the congress industry, business and incentive (motivational) travel, is held from May 21 to 23, 2019 in Frankfurt. The fair attracted around 14,000 business visitors, of which 3,500 exhibitors from 160 countries. The majority of interested MICE event buyers present at this fair are from the markets of Germany, USA, UK, France, Russia, and Scandinavian countries.

At the stand of Montenegro, Local Tourist Organization of Budva, Montenegro Stars Hotel Group, Hotel Avala Resort and Villas, Hotel Lazure Hotel & Marina, The Chedi Luštica Bay, Montenegro Tourist Service, Explorer and Montenegro In Style presented their offers.

Source: National Tourism Organization of Montenegro

22 May 2019 - One of the most impressive five-star hotels in Montenegro - The Chedi Luštica Bay has won another flattering title after receiving the Wild Beauty Award as the best hotel in Montenegro at the end of last year.

On the recently closed Central and Eastern European Real Estate Quality Awards (CEEQA) Ceremony in Warsaw, The Chedi Hotel was named the most outstanding building of the year in Southeast Europe. The new award of this fairy-tale like refuge once again confirmed the quality Luštica Bay is recognizable for, but also reinforced the conviction that the entire project is advancing in the right direction.

At the award ceremony, the executive director of Luštica Development, Darren Gibson, did not hide pleasure after this success.

"The Chedi Hotel is the purest expression of the passion and commitment of all those who took part in this project. It is the very peak of our efforts and, as the first of the seven planned hotels in Luštica Bay, Chedi is focused on creating the life as it should be, and this is the life that we so devotedly create in our project. Inspired by autochthonous architecture and local heritage, Chedi connects the natural elements with sophisticated luxury and unparalleled comfort, and this is the essence of our success and this award,” said Gibson.

Not forgetting the last year’s Wild Beauty Award for the hotel of the year, this new recognition is certainly one of many that Montenegro and Chedi’s management expects from this special hotel in the heart of Luštica Bay, a new recognizable destination of Orascom.

The decision on this award was made by the CEEQA jury, which consists of experienced representatives of the leading companies in the market.

Since 2003, the CEEQA organization has been a key figure in merging investors, institutions, organizations and real estate agents in one place. Attracting 800+ business leaders and decision makers from more than 50 countries to celebrate the success and success stories of the calendar year, the event is renowned for its exceptional blend of elite business, exclusive hospitality and world class entertainment. 

The Chedi Hotel Luštica Bay is the first hotel of the Chedi brand in the Balkans and second in Europe. The brand owner, GHM, founded Chedi as a brand of luxury hotels in Asia and the Far East. Their first European hotel The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland was named the best luxury winter hotel in the world. Located in the heart of the most beautiful merging of the Montenegrin coast and the mountain outback, The Chedi Hotel offers 111 rooms and suites, two restaurants and two bars, a high-tech conference and business centre, a wellness and spa centre with indoor pool and heated outdoor infinity pool. The hotel also offers beach and sunbathing area, and direct access to a quiet promenade and marina with 176 berths. More information is available at www.chedilusticabay.com and on social networks Instagram: @thechedilusticabay; Facebook: The Chedi Luštica Bay - a GHM hotel.

21 May 2019 - Construction of the second block in the Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja is currently not a priority of the Electric Power Company of Montenegro, as this company has started a massive investment momentum in order to diversify energy production from renewable energy sources, in the first line wind and sun, the Chairman of the Board of Directors within the company, Đoko Krivokapić.

“If we were to compare this year’s results from the first quarter with the ones we had in the same period last year, I would say we are not quite satisfied with them. The company’s business revenues in the first trimester of 2019 amounted to 90.4 million EUR, while the new profit of the company amounted to 10.7 million EUR. The total electricity production in the first quarter of 2019 was 845 gigawatt-hours, which is by 12.7 per cent or 123 gigawatt-hours less compared to 2018,” said Krivokapić regarding the Electric Power Company of Montenegro results

Having in mind hydrology which was below the average level, Krivokapić added that he was satisfied with the electricity production and the company’s business results in the first quarter.

According to him, the Electric Power Company of Montenegro expects a public procurement procedure soon to be announced, in order to implement ecological reconstruction of the Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja, while the works should be completed from 2019 to 2021. The implementation of a project referring to the reconstruction of the existing block in Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja, based on the preliminary design, is estimated at around 45 million EUR.

When asked whether the Electric Power Company of Montenegro was going to give up the construction of the second block, Krivokapić said that this project was not the topmost priority for the company, as the cooperation with the Czech Republic’s Skoda Praha, which was supposed to provide funds for the construction of the Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja’s second unit, had been terminated.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro