Most data subjects believe that women are discriminated against in the Montenegrin labor market and that men are more likely to obtain a job. This has been shown by field research on the position of women in the labor market in Montenegro, conducted by the Center for Monitoring and Research (CEMI) from December 2018 to February this year.

The research was carried out as part of the Project for Research Journalism in Montenegro (CIN-CG) "Research and Media Campaign: Women's Rights / Labor Rights".

CEMI has conducted 20 detailed interviews with women, out of which 13 are employed and seven are not.

The President of CIN - CG Milka Tadic Mijovic pointed out that research has shown that women, as well as in other spheres of life, are discriminated against in the labor market.

Executive Director of CEMI Nikoleta Djukanovic pointed out that several stakeholders, despite the efforts of the research team, did not answer the calls or refused to participate in the research. These are, as she explained, the Ministry of Economy, KIPS, NLB Bank, Codra Hospital, JPU "Ljubica Popovic", Sportina DOO.

"The employer asked a significant number of data subjects about planning and expanding their family," Djukanovic said.

As she said, respondents believe that in certain sectors or positions, such as trade, sales, tourism, and catering, the way a woman looks is very important to employers to offer them the job.

The Deputy of Human Rights and Freedoms, Sinisa Bjekovic, pointed out that the survey results match their data. He pointed out that women in the labor market in Montenegro are discriminated by the fact that they are given contracts on a definite period of time, and also in denying them benefits based on maternity leave.

"It is indicative that women are less employed," Bjekovic said. He stressed that women have much less trust in state institutions and are much less active in the job market because of many factors which makes them repellent to do so.

"The problem is how women are being perceived today in Montenegro, and men's consciousness in this matter needs to be changed as well," Bjekovic said.

Text by Borko Zdero, on May 13th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

13 May 2019 - Within the framework of the manifestation Kotor Concert Season, organized by prestigious Montenegrin Music School Vida Matjan and KotorArt Don Branko's Music Days, renowned musicians Ratimir Martinović (piano) and Gordana Josifova Nedelkovska (oboa) will perform on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in the beautiful ambiance of Luštica Bay’s The Chedi Hotel.

Martinović and Nedelkovska will present an interesting and challenging program to the audience, which includes the compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Schumann, Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac and Stanislas Verroust.

Martinović, who is also the director of the International Art Festival KotorArt, is more than satisfied with the previous cooperation with Luštica Bay and looks forward to the mutual success in the future.

"Luštica Bay is a traditional partner not only of our festival, but also of other valuable art events in the country. Luštica is not only the largest investment in tourism in the country, but perhaps its most beautiful. Such an enthralling vision is granted to have superior art as its partner. As a pianist playing in Luštica Bay, it is very inspirational to engrave our music in the youngest city to be built in Montenegro, and I believe that Gordana and I will be able to convey our vision through a varied and multi-layered program that we have prepared," Martinović said in an interview for the CDM portal.

The concert will take place on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at 8 am and will be held at The Ballroom of The Chedi Hotel.

The cooperation between Luštica Bay and KotorArt began several years ago, through the partnership that brought the first artistic programs to this gorgeous marina town. From then on, the organization of cultural events in Luštica Bay continues to position this new centre of life as an incredible tourist destination that cherishes the importance of culture in location branding.

The organizers of this event have made sure that all interested locals and tourists have the opportunity to come and enjoy the concert, so they arranged transportation from Kotor. The bus departs from the bus stop in front of the Employment Service Kotor (Montenegrin: Zavod za zapošljavanje Kotor) at 7 pm. After the concert, the bus will depart from The Chedi Hotel to transport the passengers back to Kotor.

"For the very first time, the Kotor Concert Season is organizing a concert in our youngest town, Luštica Bay. It is our great pleasure to organize a concert with the long-standing partners of the Festival and announce all the events that are expected within this year's Don Branko’s Music Days, precisely with their support. What distinguishes the Kotor Concert Season is the care of pupils and teachers of the school, as well as our faithful audience and during the winter months for which, primarily, we organize transportation from Kotor," said the representatives of KotorArt.

The manifestation Kotor Concert Season was first launched in 2015, and is organized with the mutual cooperation between the Music School Vida Matjan from Kotor and the International Festival KotorArt. Through numerous concerts and master class workshops, this event allows its students, professors and audience to listen and learn from the world's most celebrated names of classical music. Therefore, during the winter period, concert hall becomes the centre of cultural events in the city and a favourite place for the development of ideas, conversation and socializing.

“So far, Kotor Concert Season events hosted incredible artists: Albert Mamriev, Rita Kinka, Mihajlo Zurković, Florian Koltun, Xin Wang, Antonio di Cristofano, Darko Karajić, Stefan Milenković and many others," stated from the KotorArt PR Service.

Pianist Ratimir Martinović was born in Kotor, and he graduated in 1999 from the class of Kemal Gekić at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, playing in one night Bach’s “Goldberg Variations”, Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier Sonata”, Chopin’s Four Ballades, and Prokofiev’s “Toccata”, to great critical acclaim. He received his Master’s degree, playing an all Bach program. At present, Martinović works as Associate professor at the Academy of Arts, as the youngest piano professor and serves as the head of music department.

Martinović plays as soloist with orchestras such as the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Mexico State Symphony Orchestra , Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vogtland Philharmonic, Thailand Philharmonic, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Plovdiv State Symphony Orchestra, Macedonian Philharmonic orchestra, North Czech Symphony Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic, Radio-Televison Serbia Symphony Orchestra as well as witch chamber orchestras such as „Viotti“ Orchestra, Kaliningrad Chamber Symphony, St. Georg’s Strings, Young European Soloists, The Orchestra of the North Shore and many others, collaborating with conductors such as Alexandar Rahbari, Andres Mustonen, Emil Tabakov, Peter Sundkvist, David Porceline, William Noll, Aleksandar Ostrovsky, Gudni Emilsson and many others.

He is the winner of many domestic and international awards and tributes.

After initial successes in piano competitions at a very early age, Ratimir Martinović withdrew from the competition scene, devoting his time to playing concerts and teaching.

Oboist Gordana Josifova Nedelkovska is a very respectable musician in the highest European cultural circles, and she is considered as one of the most important Macedonian artists. Critics call her „sophisticated oboe poetess“, and her name is a synonym for the pursuance for perfection in musical expression.

She has performed as a soloist with many important orchestras such as the Symphony Orchestra of the State Chapel of Saint Petersburg, the Estonian National  Symphonic Orchestra in Tallinn, the Chamber Orchestra Musica Viva with Alexander Rudin, Belgrade Symphonic Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra ‘Sophia Soloists’, the Chamber Orchestra St. George Strings, the orchestra of Avignon – Provence, Chamber orchestra of Porto Alegre – Brazil, United Europe chamber orchestra. Since September 2009, Prof. Josifova Nedelkovska has been Dean of the Faculty of Music – Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.   

12 May 2019 - National Parks of Montenegro, on the occasion of the European Day of the Parks, will organize a promotional ride by a new tourist train to NP Biogradska gora and educational workshops at Visitor Centers in NP Lovćen and NP Durmitor.

"For many years, the National Parks of Montenegro has marked the European Day of the Parks with educational and ecological activities to raise public awareness of the importance of their preservation and protection, as well as to promote their natural and cultural values ​​that stand out from other European protected areas," said the director of National Parks of Montenegro, Elvir Klica.

According to the representatives of National Parks of Montenegro statement, the European Day of the Parks is also an opportunity to point out the challenges that Montenegro faces in the process of their management, seeking optimal solutions in cooperation with relevant entities, as well as promoting the tourist offer based on active holidays.

"National Parks of Montenegro will organize, on May 24th, a promotional ride by a tourist train to NP Biogradska Gora for representatives of competent institutions that contribute to the management and promotion of protected areas. On the same day, after a cultural and artistic program, the activity of walking along the educational path is planned at Biogradsko Lake accompanied by an expert guide, as well as a tasting of autochthonous products from the area of ​​Bjelasica and Northern Montenegro," emphasized Klica.

Also, under the slogan "Nature, Our Treasure", which was proposed this year by the Europark Federation, there will be educational workshops in NP Lovćen and NP Durmitor.

On the occasion of the European Day of the Parks, on May 24th, following the Decision on the number of fees, the entrance fee for all visitors of National Parks of Montenegro is free.

May 13, 2019 - Dritan Abazovic, the Civilian Movement URA leader, met in Berlin with Martin Weiss, a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast European Society of the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the leading organizations for the analysis of Balkan policies, today announced URA.

13 May 2019 - The Tourist Organization of Budva will officially introduce an excursion fee for the Old Town Budva at the price of one euro starting from next Monday, May 20, 2019.

According to the Decision of the Introduction of Excursion Fee brought by the Government of Montenegro (March 22, 2018) and the local government of Budva (December 27, 2018), all tourists who come to visit the Old Town Budva in the framework of an organized group through tourist agencies will have to pay the excursion fee which amounts to 1 EUR.

The official report by the Tourist Organization of Budva states that the excursion fee will be collected at the new information and tourist point that will be built next to the kindergarten "Ljubica Jovanović Maša", right across the cafe Perla.

As the elaboration of the main project of construction of the information point is underway, the collection will be organized at an information and tourist point in the Old Town of Budva at the address Njegoševa 28.

The excursion fee of 1 EUR will be charged throughout the year to each visitor/tourist who, as a part of an organized group, visits the tourist site Old Town Budva.

Payment of the excursion fee will not be required for children up to 12 years of age, persons with severe sensory and physical disorders, participants in school excursions, foreign citizens who are exempted from paying international taxes under international conventions, and who through official humanitarian organizations come to provide humanitarian assistance and for guests accommodated in tourist facilities located in the territory of Budva, who have already paid the residence tax.

According to the Decision of Introduction of Excursion Fee, a fee will be charged to tourists who, in the framework of organised groups, through tourist agencies, other legal entities or entrepreneurs registered for performing tourist activities, visit the Old Town of Budva as a tourist site of exceptional natural and cultural-historical values.

Excursion tax is the income of the Tourist Organization of the Municipality of Budva and is used to encourage, organise and realise promotional activities in order to create all necessary preconditions for the protection and improvement of natural and cultural-historical values, customs and provision of general conditions for a quality and uniform reception and stay of tourists in the area of the Old Town of Budva.

May 13, 2019 - The KotorArt Festival within the Coca-Cola Stage allows the audience to hear more popular music sounds while maintaining a high level of artistic expression. In addition to the previously announced concert of the Montenegrin star, Sergej Cetkovic with young talents, a regional pop attraction, Croatian musician Massimo Savic, arrives in Kotor.

May 13, 2019 - Femi Kuti, a Nigerian musician, the prince of "Afrobeat" and the worthy successor to his father, Fela Kuti, arrives in Tivat in September, where he will perform at the Tivat World Festival. The concert, which will open the third edition of the only world music festival in Montenegro on September 12th, will be the first performance of this great artist in our country.

The Tivat World Festival started three years ago in cooperation with the local tourist organization Dalibor Ševaljević, a Tivat musician and photographer. His main intention was presenting the local audience music based on the original musical expressions of different peoples and cultures, and Femi Kuti is so far the world's most significant name to be presented in Tivat.

"Femi Kuti is one of the globally most important names of world music. The Nigerian musician has the nickname "Prince of Afrobeat," because his father, legendary musician and activist Fela Kuti, still carries the title of the undisputed king of African music. This will be the first performance by Femi Kuti in Montenegro, and I can say that it will also be the biggest star of the world music that has ever performed in our country," says Dalibor Ševaljević, stressing that the entrance to this concert, as well as other contents at the Tivat World Festival, will be free.

Femi was born as Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti. He entered music at a very early age, but at 15, he joined a band. A few years later he founded his group "Positive Force," with whom he signed ten albums, four of which were nominated for the Emmy award.

Femi built his African-style music style mixed with African folk music, soul, and jazz, and like his father and grandmother, feminist and activist, Femi often talks about political and social issues.

The concept of the Tivat World Festival implies that local musicians, the most prominent names of the region, as well as the artists of the world's voice, will be presented within each edition. In addition to educating the audience on current world trends, this festival is also an opportunity to affirm the local musical heritage.

"The first edition of the festival was performed by the legendary Balkan Gypsy Orchestra. For this occasion, they prepared the Montenegrin folk song "Still Don't Like Sorrowful Dawn," which they later inserted into their usual repertoire and performed it all over the world. We can consider this to be a small contribution by the Tivat World Festival for Montenegrin Culture in general," says Ševaljević.

"When it comes to the quality of the festival, we have established frames, not giving up quality as the key benchmark in the selection of performers, which we will present to the audience in Tivat for each edition of the festival. Also, we will always try to offer something new and different from year to year to the audience," Ševaljević promises.

Femi Kuti won't be the only musician coming to Tivat from other continents. Ševaljević did not want to reveal more details about this segment of the program but announced that the regional star, Bilja Krstić with her orchestra would perform at Pine.

Contestants from five continents and 41 countries around the world competed in Kotor at the fourth triathlon Ocean Lava Montenegro.

Each of these 600 participants in the “Half Ironman” race is inspired by passion and will, and the limits are just in each of us, as proved by the contestants of the "Sasfit Team" from Turkey.

Paralympians Mustafa Sar, Enes Gunel and Burak Abadjol competed in the relay-race category: Mustafa, a competitor with no arms, swan a distance of 1.9 kilometers. Burak, who has an inherent problem with his right hand, ran the whole semi-marathon i.e., 21 kilometers. Enes is immobile and drove a bicycle on a trail 90 kilometers long.

Mustafa was born without arms. He's practiced sports for nine years, out of which five professionally.

"I began swimming following a recommendation by my doctor, who thought that this sport would help me because of spinal scoliosis," the Turkish Paralympics said to "Vijesti".

Sport as therapy is also recommended to another member of the "Sasfit team", 32-year-old competitor Buraku, whose disability is the result of his mother's difficult birth.

Burak's right arm was not fully developed and for years he could not use it.

"I had surgery eight times. I've practiced sports for 14 years, of which nine as a professional. For years I have played football at a club for disabilities. In one of them, I was a goalkeeper for eight years," Burak said.

He also added that, apart from being engaged in sports, he studied economics at the University of Istanbul, after which he completed postgraduate studies in sociology and sports law.

"I do not allow my physical disability to be a barrier to anything in my life," he said in his profile on Linkedin.

Thee Sasfit team from Turkey was supposed also include 27-year-old Abdulkadir Uzol, a competitor with one foot who for years successfully participated in the cycling races.

Abdulkadir did not arrive in Kotor because of the wedding plans, and 29-year-old Enes Gunel replaced him in the relay-race. Enes rode the Triathlon in Kotor with a special bicycle made for paraplegics or persons with spine injuries.

This young man started an active sports career at the age of six. He practiced swimming, basketball, and volleyball. In February 2012, Enes experienced an accident at a snowboarding show, when he suffered a substantial spinal injury, which is why he is immobile today.

After the long recovery, he decided to return to the sport. Aware that some of them were no longer possible because of his immobility, he went for cycling.

His bicycle came from the United States in 2015 as a donation, and Enes has been active since then. He plans to represent Turkey at the Paralympics Games in Tokyo in 2020.

"Paraplegia often makes me depend on others... Still, I would recommend everyone in a similar situation to not give up and to work hard on themselves. Even when it is certain that the full recovery is impossible - do not give up," he said.

Paralympians like thee Turkish athletes are not new to the Ocean Lava Montenegro competition.

Two years ago in Kotor, among the 300 contestants at the time, there was Honzu Tomanek from the Czech Republic. Tomanek was also the first paraplegic to take part in a triathlon competition in Montenegro in the first year after Paratriathlon, at the Paralympics Games in Rio 2016, and was officially entered on the list of Paralympic sports.

Triathlon has been in the Olympic Games program since 2000.

"The world is driven by passion," is the official message of Ocean Lava's organizers.

An important life lesson 

Triathlon contestant Igor Majer, the founder of the Sports Academy "Mayer", who is also the organizer of the competition in Kotor, says that what for other contest organizers may be a problem, for him is a challenge. The Turkish contestants contacted him a few months ago with a list of demands. "I've provided everything they requested. Nothing of this complicates my organization, I love everything I do, I like to show others that borders are just in ourselves and it is my pleasure to host such competitors who can show everyone that the world is driven by passion and will, and that the borders are only in our heads. I am sure that today in Kotor, all the participants of the race and fans will learn an important life lesson," said Majer to “Vijesti”, "convinced that with their example and participation in the race Mustafa, Enes and Burak will be an inspiration to others so they can change their life for the better. 

Text by Damira Kalac, on May 12th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The campaign "Profession is the Key! Get a Job, Make Money and Build Yourself!", started this morning at the Independence Square in Podgorica, and besides the information on secondary vocational schools, future high school students can follow the regional competition "Tourist Market".

Within the contest, 12 students from Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia represent tourist destinations and promote the direction of the tourist technician.

The organizer of the three-day competition is the Secondary School and Vocational Education "Sergije Stanic" from Podgorica, sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the Capital, and the winners will be announced on Monday.

At Independence Square, their town as an interesting tourist destination is represented by high school students from Bar, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Herceg Novi, Niksic, Plav, Podgorica, Ulcinj, as well as competitors from Vrnjacka Banja, Bled and Skoplje.

Two students from each town, along with their mentor, exhibit their region's offer, through printed material, souvenirs, national cuisine, and more.

In addition, within the theme "My Town – Top Destination", there will also be an educational-entertainment performance 12 to 15 minutes long (in Montenegrin and partly in English).

"Representatives of the schools have their booths, and members of the jury are a representative of a travel agency, a faculty professor, a hotel representative, and an English professor," the organizers said.

Prizes for the top three groups are planned, as well as a special award for the best stand, best performance, and best impression. The winners will be announced on Monday.

 The opening ceremony was opened by the Minister of Education Damir Sehovic.

Text by Borko Zdero, on May 11th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The mandatory registration of dogs should begin on June 1^st, and chips will be funded by the state by the end of the year, while owners will pay two euros per dog. By the end of the year, the state will also finance vaccination against rabies, said the Food, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Directorate.

From this authority, headed by Vesna Dakovic, it was said that the registration in the entire state would enhance the responsibility of dog owners.

The veterinary ambulances currently charge up to 25 euros.

"Identification and registration will be carried out across the entire territory of Montenegro. This will create the conditions for identifying the dog owners at all times, determining the health status of the dog, thereby enhancing the responsibility of the owners, because the primary responsibility for the animal is its owner," the Board said.

Identification is subject to newborns and dogs that have not been identified following the regulations. Newborns must be chipped no later than 90 days from the date of birth, i.e., during the first vaccination against viral diseases or brood abandonment.

The owners will be able to get the chip in any veterinary clinic, as the Department said.

Dogs that were previously labeled with a prescribed microchip will not be re-chipped, but data will only be entered in the animal passport and the Pet Registry. The dog can only be re-chipped if the old chip is impossible to read. As to how the registration is to be implemented in this case, the Management Board will notify the owners.

After applying the microchip, the dogs will be vaccinated against rabies.

The Management expects to receive the first data on the number of units in the population of stray dogs by the end of May. For these projects, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded 30,000 euros last August to several non-governmental organizations.

The obtained data, as expected by the competent authorities, will "significantly contribute to the improvement of the control of the stray dog population in Montenegro".

Text by Damira Kalac, on May 10th, 2019, read more on Vijesti