17 May 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System Milutin Simović gave an introductory speech at the event Rising Destinations 2019 - Montenegro organised by the Southeast Europe Business Development Network (SEEBDN) and Grimex Consult, in partnership with the Austrian media company "Die Presse" in Vienna.

The economic delegation of Montenegro, headed by President of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro Vlastimir Golubović, presented the economic opportunities, resources, and investment projects and potentials of Montenegro. After several business forums held in the previous period, it was a good opportunity to make direct contacts between Austrian investors and Montenegrin companies.

Montenegrin famous football player and President of the Football Association of Montenegro Dejan Savicević also took part in the event. 

DPM Simović thanked the Austrian companies for their numerous presence at the Rising Destinations 2019 - Montenegro event, which shows a significant interest in cooperation with Montenegro and Montenegrin companies and business people. He told the Austrian business people that nowadays Montenegro is a modern, democratic, open, politically stable, multi-confessional and civil state, a member of NATO, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and all relevant international political and economic organizations.

17 May 2019 - Prime Minister Marković said that with the NATO membership, Montenegro has become part of the biggest security alliance; it is an equal partner to the most powerful and most developed countries in the world.

"The joint security framework means the investors have more confidence in Montenegro; this is an important advantage. Montenegro’s NATO membership is a signal to investors that this is a destination which enjoys the highest security standards, and that it shares the same values of partner countries, from which we wish to attract as many investors as possible. Our successful European integration shows that Montenegro is changing, that it is closer and more compatible with EU member states. We are harmonizing our entire system with the EU model and are adopting new standards, thus preparing our society for the time when we finally become a member," said Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković.

He also added that these are all signals for investors that Montenegro is a stable country, and that this is a society which is not wavering, but closely following the set strategic direction. The most important thing for investors is predictability. When it comes to Montenegro – everything is predictable – there are no surprises.

"We are on a good course, and we are steadily moving towards the set goals. The progress we have made in the European and Euro-Atlantic integrations confirm this. The great interest from prestigious investors after our joining of NATO further supports and solidifies this fact," he noted.

Furthermore, PM Marković spoke about Montenegrin competitive tax system, Government's programmes to encourage business development and infrastructure projects to make Montenegro more accessible and energy-safe.

"When it comes to physical infrastructure, we are creating strategic preconditions for an even stronger inflow of investments. We are finalising the first stage of the motorway, and we are planning to improve our airports through reliable foreign partners significantly, and we are finishing the submarine energy cable. This means that we are making Montenegro more accessible and energy-safe, and these are important preconditions for attracting quality investments," concluded Marković.

Source: The Luxury Collection

17 May 2019 - An exhibition of drawings by Uroš Tošković, a homage to one of the most prominent Montenegrin artists, will be symbolically opened at the Gayo Gallery in Porto Montenegro on Tuesday, May 21 at 8 pm.

Uroš Tošković was a Montenegrin and Yugoslav painter and draftsman. Tošković is considered one of the world's best painters of the 20th century according to many art critics from Europe and beyond.

Uroš Tošković was born in a low-income family in the village of Pelev Brijeg, and in the Bratonožići region of Montenegro, which was then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After moving to Cetinje, Tošković enrolled in the Art School, which was later transferred to Herceg Novi, where he graduated in 1952, in the class led by Petar Lubarda and Milo Milunović. Then he moved to Belgrade, where he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1956, in the class mentored by Marko Čelebonović. During the studies in Belgrade, Tošković partnered with Dado Đurić, Olja Ivanjicki and others, forming the alternative artist group Mediala in 1953.

In 1956, he moved to Paris, after receiving a French government scholarship for the École des Beaux-Arts, where he graduated under the mentorship of Maurice Brianchon. He lived and worked in Paris until 1976, leading an ascetic and bohemian lifestyle, occasionally living like a vagabond. In 1976, he moved from Paris to Belgrade, and since 1996 he has resided in the Montenegrin coastal town of Bar. He gained recognition in his homeland, and in 1987 he received the 13th July Award, the highest civil award issued by the Government of Montenegro. Tošković died on 3 March 2019 at the age of 86.

As journalist Jelena Kontić reports, his drawings won over the Paris art critics and painters, who mostly had the opinion that Uroš Tošković was the best graphic artist in the world. For 20 years, he lived in Paris, where he met the greatest artists at the time, such as Picasso, Dali, Sartre, and Ionesco. It is an anecdote that Picasso wanted to buy one of his drawings, but Tošković replied: "I am too expensive for you".

Art historian and art critic Anastazija Miranović described Uroš Tošković as the "incomprehensible, unadapted, frightening creator, and this is shown in his work. Uroš does not copy anyone with his drawings, paintings, sculptures, installations. His words, opinions, behaviors are his own. He is the way he is, and that is his freedom, creative and human freedom. This freedom is his choice as much as his destiny."

17 May 2019 - The Public Administration Reform Council recently held its eleventh session, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Internal and Foreign Policy Zoran Pažin. 

Socially responsible business is the way of doing business at CentreVille Hotel & Experiences, a hotel that was declared as the best in the Capital city by the Tourist Organization Podgorica.

"In addition to experienced colleagues in the field of hospitality developing their career path at the Hotel CenterVille, we provide the young people who represent the future of this industry in Montenegro since the establishment of the hotel a chance to learn and make progress," said Jelena Ognjenovic, General Manager of the Hotel CenterVille.

The CenterVille Hotel & Experiences participates every year in the Government's vocational training program for graduate students. The smile on the faces of both guests and employees is one of their priorities.

"A friendly, however, professional approach is what distinguishes our business. From the beginning of hotel operations to the present day, a great number of young people have been trained through our hotel facility. In addition to performing their primary duties, all hotel sector managers are continually taking some part of their time on a daily basis to help young colleagues in their work, and through concrete examples of practice they have made it easier for them to start their career, present their work as attractive as possible and have them trained so they could work in any hotel in the world, given that CentreVille operates in accordance with international, corporate standards," said Slavica Stojkovic, Human Resources Manager at Hotel CenterVille.

In addition to the professional training program, the praxis at the hotel CenterVille is also carried out by pupils from the secondary school "Sergije Stanic", the secondary vocational school "Spasoje Raspopovic" from Podgorica and the students from the Faculty of Tourism of the University Mediteran, and so on.

"Thirty high school pupils will finish their practice at our hotel in the dual education system this year and through regular practice. Out of them, ten service technicians, thirteen chefs, six pastries, and one baker. We are very much concerned with the quality of the time they spend with us, with the highlight on the skills they acquire," added Stojkovic.

Slobodan Lukovac, a student who has been carrying out the praxis at CenterVille Hotel & Experiences for two years, was the absolute winner in the discipline bar and bar business at the 12^th National contest of Catering Schools in Montenegro, held on 23^rd and 24^th April in Budva.

"The competition was very strong, and I scored the best placement among 22 contestants. I had the highest, maximum number of points. I have perfected my abilities that I have shown in the competition, I developed in “The Living Room”, the lounge bar at the CenterVille, where I improve my skills daily, together with my colleagues and mentors," said Slobodan Lukovac, a student attending praxis at the CenterVille hotel.

Help in the education and training of young hospitality staff is something that the hotel welcomes with joy, and something that they are particularly working hard on.

"Since we are a country with a highly developed hospitality industry, it is clear to me that this kind of staff is very much needed. In this connection, it is our pleasure to give some contribution to the creation of hotel staff through competent types of mentoring, who will be competent, skillful and representative. Whether these young people are coming to work with us or in another Montenegrin hotel - we will do our utmost to make them complete tourist workers after graduation," concluded Ognjenovic.

As a credible employer, CentreVille Hotel & Experiences is a trusted partner to all educational institutions in the field of tourism and therefore invites all responsible to a co-operation to achieve a common goal - creating quality, domestic staff - to the satisfaction of employees and employers. For the second year in a row, the school for medium and high-level education "Sergije Stanic" cooperates with the Hotel CenterVille when it comes to the practical teaching of dual education students.

"The students from the “cooking” section had only praise for the head of the kitchen, Mr. Sasa Popovic, while the students from the restaurant/service technician learned all their knowledge in practice from Mr. Dragan Grnovic and Stojan Karadzic, who were their instructors during the school year. This kind of cooperation with an eminent hotel such as the CenterVille means a lot to our students because they have the opportunity to see and learn something that they cannot master in school, but only in practice among a large number of people and at a higher level of work when the practice is concerned. Therefore, we thank the hotel on behalf of the school and we hope for the same successful cooperation in the future," said Marija Grujucic, Coordinator of practical teaching at the secondary school “Sergije Stanic”.

At the moment, the CenterVille Hotel & Experiences, 38 students and graduates gain their first working experience through various programs of practice and work training. The CenterVille Hotel & Experiences currently employs 87 workers, which fully represent the Montenegrin workforce, which the hotel is particularly proud of.

Text by Promo sadrzaj, on May 16th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The seventh Montenegro pride will be held on the 21^st of September in Podgorica, calling for the unification of people in a common struggle for equality, justice and freedom, the representatives of the Organizing Committee said, stating that LGBTIQ people should be recognized and respected.

A representative of the Organizing Committee of Montenegro in 2019, Hana Konatar, at a press conference, said that Montenegro would, in its history, proudly record the seventh Montenegrin pride on Saturday, September 21^st.

"I wish to greet you all on behalf of the Organizing Committee, which this year brought together a large number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender variants and people who are traditionally proud, together with our male and female friends, members of our families in the preparations of the 7th Parade of Pride," Konatar said in the PR Center. This year, as she said, more than forty people took an active part in the Organizing Committee.

"We have been preparing a rich program since March, which we will be organized during June, the month of the proud for LGBTIQ people, as well as the eve of the pride itself, during the Week of Pride in September," Konatar said.

A representative of the Organizing Committee of Montenegro in 2019, Nikola Ilic, said that on May 17^th, the International Day of Combating Homophobia and Transphobia, "which is" of special importance to us because it is the day we celebrate our struggle against social oppression over LGBTIQ people".

Ilic said that the month of the struggle against homophobia and transphobia was marked by various activities and events, such as the playwrights, art workshops, film evenings, and community empowerment workshops.

These activities will continue until the end of the month, but also during the international month of pride in June, so we invite all those interested to visit, and information on events can be found on the social networks of the organization Queer of Montenegro, NGO’s SPEKTRA and Juventas", said is Ilic. This year, as he adds, the Organizing Committee prepares various events on the eve of the Week of Pride, and, as he adds, a large number of workshops, film projections, performances, exhibitions, social gatherings, and parties are planned.

"We try to make the activities suitable for all, younger and older, for all male and female members of the LGBTIQ community, for their families and friends, for our partners, co-workers and colleagues. This year's news is that we will walk for every town, realizing numerous events outside Podgorica. It is about six cities and we are waiting for the days painted with rainbow colors, and everything will be crowned with the biggest Montenegrin pride so far," Ilic said.

He announced that a big Queer party would be organized in the garden of the Ethno jazz Club Sejdefa tonight at 11 p.m.

A representative of the Organizing Committee of Montenegro pride in 2019, Marija Jovanovic, said that fifty years after the organization of the first pride in the world, in Montenegro will be organized the seventh Montenegro pride. "Like the previous years, this year, we will be able to communicate the universal values ​​that we stand for. Human rights LGBTIQ people must be recognized and respected in a democratic society, as ours aspires to be," Jovanović said.

This year, Pride calls on the unification of people in a common struggle for equality, justice, and freedom as she said.

"We are gathering a community that, alongside all the obstacles it faces, courageously and decisively is holding together in the struggle for equal status in society, for the right to partnership relations, which are not yet recognized by law, the right to free movement, the right to security, happiness," Jovanovic said.

She said that Montenegrin deputies have a task to support the Law on the Life Partnership of the same gender, by which they will, as it seems, show a willingness to fulfill their human and moral obligation to protect the rights of all citizens.

"In this case, they are the basic human rights of LGBTIQ people. It is for all of us to show that support is the family value that lies in the root of our culture and that it must be present in every struggle for social equality," Jovanovic said.

The representative of the Organizing Committee of Montenegro 2019, Marica Vlahovic, 2019, said that despite the slight improvement in the situation compared to previous years, members of the LGBTIQ community are still exposed to discrimination, hate speech and violence.

"We strive to fight against violence, and our efforts in this period are geared towards an adequate prosecution of hate crimes. We are proud of the fact that we have managed to build strong support services, such as providing free legal aid and counseling to people who experienced violence motivated by homophobia and/or transphobia," Vlahovic said.

For the LGBTIQ community at the moment is, as she said, the most important issue is the adoption of the Law on the Life Partnership of the same gender.

"The voting is still pending, and we believe that the representatives of the people in the Montenegrin Parliament will recognize the importance of this law. It covers and regulates the rights and obligations of same-sex partners in terms of material maintenance, joint immunity, inheritance and health care system," Vlahovic said.

The campaign ahead of this year's pride will, among other things, focuses on the united communities and the influence of the Law on the everyday life of all persons who live or want to establish a same-sex community.

"If the law is not adopted at this session of the Assembly, it will seriously jeopardize the democratic values ​​on which our society is founded. In that case, we will show that we do not like it and continue to be stronger and tougher for the respect of our human rights," Vlahovic said.

Text by Vijesti online, on May 17th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

In the middle of the summer tourist season 2019, the most convenient airline flights between Montenegro and Serbia are now even cheaper than the current regular lines from Podgorica and Tivat to Belgrade, on which fly the national companies from two countries - Montenegro Airlines and Air Serbia.

Now, there is the new seasonal line Nis-Tivat, where a return ticket costs only 48 euros.

Starting on July 16^th, this line will operate three times a week on the "Airbus -319" of the Serbian national company.

The return ticket prices for most other destinations in Eastern, Western and Northern Europe that Air Serbia from Nis will amount to between 50 and 70 euros.

The most expensive return ticket is between Nis-Rome and will cost 73 euros. Currently, a return ticket of Montenegro Airlines or Air Serbia on regular and non-subsidized lines between Belgrade, Tivat, and Podgorica costs between 122 and 135 euros.

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on May 16th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

May 17, 2019 - Ivan Gajić, director of sales and marketing of Hotel Regent Porto Montenegro, presented the hotel offers at ILTM - the International Luxury Travel Fair, held from 14 to 17 May in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Regent Porto Montenegro was promoted within the Intercontinental Hotels Group.

May 17, 2019 - At the Art Media Hotel in Zanjic, the fifth art colony is underway, organized by hotel management led by the owner, sculptor Nikola Nino Perović. Zanjic Art Colony of 2019 is finishing on Sunday, 19 May, with the exhibitions of works of this year's participants of one of the most popular regular annual gatherings of Montenegrin painters. 

Specific to the intensive offer of cultural events, the Art Media Hotel attracts guests from all meridians. However, thanks to the art colony that is organized in April or early May, Art Media is also an open spot for local artists and art lovers before the high tourist season.

This year the weather was not in favor of the organizers, so the artists gathered in the colony last Sunday, 12 May, and since then have been creating and joining one of the most beautiful landscapes along the Montenegrin coast, Zanjic bay at the entrance to Boka Bay.

"Only the last two days Zanjic is beginning to look to like itself at this time of year. Colors and sounds of nature are waking us up, and it is where the day is starting. Then we work better, making good pictures and sculptures. I hope to have such a beautiful time until Sunday, which means a lot in the creative process. This year we gathered lovely company, and we are all pleased and grateful for the opportunity to socialize, talk about art, and create. Of course, the result will not go away," Perovic said.

Zanjic Art Colony of 2019 has gathered ten artists. In addition to affirmed painters and sculptors - Miša Vemić, Momo Macanović, Rade Vujačić, Radun Marsenić, Irvin Masličić, and Nino Perovic, there are younger artists - Jelena Pavićević, Hana Mirkov, Anja Radulović, and Esma Šabić, coming from Mostar.

The renowned Montenegrin painter, Mišo Vemić, is at the colony at the Art Media Hotel for the second time. Commenting on the fact that the gathering has brought together artists of different generations, Vemić says the experience is undoubtedly relevant, but that, when the painting is concerned, creators can always learn from each other. The quality of socializing at Zanjic sees first and foremost in the diversity offered by artist selection: "The richness of this colony is the diversity of manuscripts. These are not uniform styles, same themes. You know, some art colonies are just grasping the landscape, all painting landscapes, or somewhere else - they all draw abstractions. We are, in artistic terms, a very diverse society, enriching each one of us individually, this colony, and the contents of the exhibition we will present on Sunday," noted the painter Mišo Vemić.

Nino Perovic invites all lovers of nature and art to come to the exhibition of works of colony participants, to be presented at the atrium of the Art Media Hotel on Sunday, 19 May at 5 pm.

16 May 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System Milutin Simović is in Vienna, where he met with President of the Austrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka, Minister for the EU, Art, Culture and Media Gernot Blümel and members of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Parliament of Austria Martin Engelberg, Nikolaus Berlakovich, Gudrun Kugler and Hermann Gahr. 

At the meeting with President of the Austrian National Council Wolfgang Sobotka, both sides expressed satisfaction with the quality of the overall relations between Montenegro and Austria. DPM Simović thanked Sobotka for the strong and concrete support of Austria to Montenegro's European perspective and pointed out that such support, which comes from an influential EU member such as Austria, is of great importance to Montenegro.

"We believe the support will continue and be even more solid at the moment of Montenegro's accession to the EU," DPM Simović noted. 

Furthermore, Simović emphasised the importance of cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries for further improvement of bilateral relations, but also for further progress of Montenegro in adopting European standards and achieving further progress in meeting Montenegrin European agenda. The Deputy Prime Minister said that, as the former Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro, he is very well aware of the importance of bilateral parliamentary cooperation and regular communication at this level in these processes. He also expressed satisfaction with the fact that, during Sobotka's official visit to Montenegro, in November last year, excellent parliamentary cooperation was established, through meetings at the highest level and meetings of governmental bodies. 

DPM Simović informed President Sobotka about the latest indicators on the growth of the Montenegrin economy and stressed the openness of the Government of Montenegro for cooperation with Austrian companies to increase the trade exchange between the two countries in the field of direct investments of Austrian investors in Montenegro. 

President Sobotka said that he always looks forward to meetings with Montenegrin officials. "Montenegro is progressing, implementing reform measures, I am familiar with its latest progress, which should be continued," Sobotka said, adding that Austria will continue to be Montenegro's reliable friend and partner that will provide strong support to its European perspective.

At the meeting with Minister for the EU, Art, Culture and Media Gernot Blümel, Simović confirmed that Montenegro was and remains firmly committed to membership in the European Union. All decisions taken by the Government of Montenegro are carefully analysed from the position of qualitative contribution to further approximation to that main state goal. 

The fact that Montenegro opened 32 out of 33 negotiating chapters confirms that the country is on the right path, said the Deputy Prime Minister and added that it can be expected that the remaining negotiation chapter 8 - Competition will be opened this year, since Montenegro has already met all the requirements to open this chapter. 

Minister Blümel encouraged Montenegro to continue its path towards the EU. He confirmed that the Government headed by Chancellor Kurz attaches special attention to further integration of the Western Balkans.

"In a time when one country leaves the EU, it is very important that we send a message that the enlargement process is alive, that the idea of a united Europe is even stronger, and these messages will be confirmed by the further progress of Montenegro and the recognition of what Montenegro has achieved so far," Blümel said. 

At the meeting with Austrian MPs and members of the Foreign Policy Committee, Martin Engelberg, Nikolaus Berlakovich, Gudrun Kugler and Hermann Gahr, DPM Simović emphasised that Austria's role in the Western Balkans is very important. Montenegro expects to understand what the Western Balkans needs in terms of its European perspective and help in resolving conflicts that continue to burden the region, Simović said.

"In our region, certain economic stability can be noted, and in that part, Montenegro is a leader according to all parameters, but economic stability, progress and development are not possible without the political stability of the region," Simović stressed. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said that he deeply believes that European partners of Montenegro will pay extra attention to the Western Balkans, noting that the alternative does not exist. 

Simović informed Austrian officials that Montenegro's primary goal on its European path is to adopt and apply European standards, that is, the quality of implementation of European legislation is more important than the date of admission.

"We understand the current circumstances within the Union and we use this period to further focus on ourselves in the fulfillment of our obligations in meeting the European agenda. It is important to join, but at this point, it is even more important to adopt EU standards, European legislation, strengthen institutions, with the belief that this will be recognised by our numerous European friends and properly evaluated," Simović said. 

Austrian parliamentarians also confirmed the position of the Government of Austria that it always had a positive attitude towards EU candidate countries. They stressed that they also remember the period when Austria was a candidate country and that they understand the Western Balkans and Montenegro in that regard. 

Martin Engelberg said that Montenegro has a reliable partner and friend in Austria. Nikolaus Berlakovich noted that Austria has always tried to provide support to Montenegro. Undoubtedly, Montenegro will be a member of the EU and that is Austria's interest, Berlakovich added. 

MP Gudrun Kugler said that she was amazed by Montenegro's natural resources, country's culture and potentials in tourism, while MP Gahr showed interest in further plans on the development of tourism, attracting foreign investments and the impact of tourism on the growth of Montenegro's economy. 

MP Engelberg proposed cooperation at the level of governments and parliaments of the two countries in the area of training young staff and civil servants. 

During his visit to Vienna, DPM Simović met with our students in Austria at the Embassy of Montenegro.

"Montenegro needs new, modern knowledge, new technologies and skills, know-how, startups and entrepreneurial advancements in all areas," Simović concluded.