May 10, 2019 - The list of artists to be presented at the 13th edition of the Herceg Novi Strip Festival from 6th to 13th September is enhanced by two other great Italian artists - Daniel Vetro and Pasquale Del Vecchio, organizers of the HSF say. 

Daniela Vetro, Copyright: Herceg Novi Strip Festival

Pasquale Del Vecchio, Copyright: Herceg Novi Strip Festival

09 May 2019 - The cruiser Marella Discovery of the British company Marella Cruises sailed into the Port of Kotor for the very first time. For the occasion, representatives of the Port of Kotor, the Port Authority of Montenegro and representatives of the Bar-based port operator in Montenegro for the Marella Cruises ships, the company Allegra, visited the newly arrived cruiser.

The Director of the Port of Kotor's Administrative sector, Snežana Jonica, and the owner and Director of the company Allegra, Mihailo Vukić, presented welcoming gifts to the general manager of the cruiser’s hotel department, Demetrios Charalambous, and kindly wished the cruiser and its crew a warm welcome to Montenegro.

Marella Discovery, which arrived at the Bay of Kotor from Dubrovnik on May 9, brought 1.800 British passengers and more than 740 crew members from over 40 countries of the world to Montenegro.

Charalambous expressed his enthusiasm for the natural beauties and cultural heritage of the bay and Kotor, pointing out that for the passengers of his cruiser, this is one of the most prestigious stations on their Mediterranean cruise, which ends on the Greek island of Corfu.

"This is a wonderful destination that offers our guests a lot of content and they are delighted with the Bay of Kotor and with Kotor as a city. The main challenge in regards to cruisers is to try to set up an adequate schedule so that there are not too many boats and too many tourists in the area at the same time. A large crowd would not be in your interest as the hosts, nor for us as operators of ships who want to have satisfied passengers," said the experienced Greek born in Cyprus, who has over 20 years of experience in cruisers service.

The Marella Cruises Company, formerly British Thomson Cruises, has changed owners a few years ago and now operates as a segment of the Anglo-German tourist giant TUI.

Marella (which translates as "shining sea" in the old Celtic language) is specialized for the British market and has six ships, of which the Marella Celebration and Marella Discovery will regularly come to Kotor every seven days. Unlike other cruising companies operating in the Mediterranean, Marella Cruises is very eager to travel to new destinations and it even opens the so-called home port stations in ports such as the Greek Corfu and Croatian Dubrovnik. Therefore, the representatives of the company Allegra and the Port of Kotor have highlighted the positive aspects and advantages that Kotor and Bar can offer them as home port stations, given the proximity of the Tivat Airport and other benefits.

Namely, Marella Cruises, as part of the conglomerate's TUI, transports British tourists from 22 UK cities to their home port stations in the Mediterranean via airplanes, where they board the company’s cruises. These planned methods of transport also create a significant benefit for the local economy of the destinations where the home port stations are located at, because they supply the ships, arrange transport for passengers and offer a range of other services. These services, as they pointed out from Allegra and the Port of Kotor, could create significant benefits for the Montenegrin economy, assuming that the British company decides that Kotor and Bar shall receive the status of their home port station.

On the occasion of the arrival of the cruiser, guests from Montenegro were able to visit the 264-meter long cruiser Marella Discovery and get acquainted with the contents that it offers to its passengers. This 69.130 ​​gross ton was built in 1996 in France as the "Splendour of the Seas" for the US Royal Caribbean Cruises company, whose fleet it belonged until four years ago when it got a new owner and a new name. On its 11 decks, Marella Disovery has a total of 918 passenger cabins, seven restaurants, seven themed bars, an entertainment centre, cinema, two swimming pools, a shopping centre and a fitness centre. The cruiser also has two special attractions - the wall for free climbing and a mini-golf course.

Source: S.L., Vijesti

May 10, 2019 - The owner of the label Blue Shadow, Israeli musician Chaim and owner of the publishing house Calypso Chili from Copenhagen, DJ Nandu, are the new confirmed guests of the electronic music festival - WAVEUL, which will be held from Thursday 25 July to Sunday 28 July at the Great Beach in Ulcinj. The impressive lineup is completed by one of the most influential regional DJs, producerx and partnerx in Artefact Records, Macedonian artist Iceberg. 

09 May 2019 - Montenegro's High Court on Thursday sentenced 13 people, including two Russian secret service operatives, up to 15 years in prison after they were convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s government and prevent it from joining NATO.

Following the verdict, the Montenegrin government published an official statement, in which they explained that “the judiciary has shown adherence to the constitutional position of autonomy and resistance to every kind of pressure and external influence”.

“Montenegro, as a NATO member, shows that it is steadfast on the path of integration and protection of European values ​​and standards,” the government commented in a pair of posts on Twitter.

Two alleged Russian military intelligence officers who were accused of organizing the overthrow of Montenegro's government coup were convicted and sentenced in absentia. Chief Judge Suzana Mugoša said the two Russians, identified as Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, were convicted of “attempted terrorism” and “creating a criminal organization.”

Eduard Shishmakov was sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison for creating a criminal organization and eight years in prison for attempted terrorism, for a total of 15 years in prison as a partially concurrent sentence. Vladimir Popov was sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison on each of the charges. Set up to be served as partially concurrent sentences; the length of Popov’s total sentence is to be 12 years.

Chief Judge Suzana Mugoša said that the Russians provided at least 200,000 EUR for the purchase of weapons. She said that Shishmakov and Popov tried to recruit “as many people as possible to come to the protest” and try to “change the electoral will” and “prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.”

Two leaders of Montenegro's opposition Democratic Front, Andrija Mandić and Milan Knežević, were sentenced to five years each. Mandić and Knežević have vowed to fight any attempt to imprison them because, as they said during a recent press conference, “they do not accept the arrest warrant”. They also added that “difficulties and consequences will be borne by those who come after them;" all the while warning of chaos if they are jailed after the verdict was announced.

"In this politically motivated and rigged trial, the insolence, superficiality, and obedience of the Montenegrin judiciary system was exposed,” it said in a statement by the DF leaders.

Montenegro's High Court found that the group had plotted to occupy the country's parliament during the 2016 parliamentary elections, assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russian leadership.

"Each member of the criminal organization had a predetermined task and role, and in the operation of a criminal organization there was a willingness to apply violence and intimidation. All members were accountable and very well aware of their deeds, wanting them to be executed and knowing that their offense was unlawful," Mugoša explained.

May 9, 2019 - Continuing our look at the real estate options in Montenegro through the RE/MAX catalogue, this week another stunning villa overlooking the Adriatic south of Budva.

The villages on the road from Budva to Bar offers some of Montenegro's best views, as well as a quieter pace of life than other parts of the coast. This makes for a perfect combination for those looking for a property with views and a little peace and quiet. 

The village of Rezevici lies just south of the iconic Sveti Stefan, a few kilometres from Budva. In the words of the official RE/MAX listing:

Set in the peaceful village of Rezevici, this property enables you to soak up the perfect brew of Mediterranean architecture, wild nature and sunny seascape. Walking distance to the sea shore and Budva-Bar main road makes this property a rare gem in Montenegro.

This three-storey stone villa is definitely built to impress. The first floor compises 3 light and airy bedrooms, simply yet elegantly furnished, extended into the pristine bathrooms with ultra-modern fittings.

Top quality marble floors run the length of the spacious open plan lounge/kitchen and living area. Crisp white walls come to life, offset by deluxe handpicked furnishings, modern art and a top-of-the-range kitchen. With sea views peeping in at every window surely the only thing to do is throw open the terrace doors and welcome them in.

Outside areas are no less striking, both in size and splendour. Beautifully fitted pool sheltered by stone walls enables complete privacy. When the sun goes down, soft patio lighting draws guests outside to relish the evening’s sea breezes, starlit sky and twinkling village lights beyond over a chilled aperitif.

A sheltered outdoor barbecue area offers a delightful spot to linger over evening meals, or you may prefer to head inside to the spacious open plan lounge/dining room.

Treat yourself with endless summer sunsets from one of your terraces as you sip away on your favourite wine.

Asking price - 1,500,000 euro. For more information, pictures and to book a viewing, visit the official RE/MAX site.

09 May 2019 - The Government of Montenegro will work to improve the business environment and enable foreign investors to have all the conditions for business, Prime Minister Duško Marković noted following the opening of the MAN Truck & Bus Centre in Danilovgrad.

The value of the investment is over 2.3 million EUR, and the building was built by MAN Truck & Bus AG Munich Germany, which has 260 years of tradition in industrial production and more than 100 years of experience in the production of commercial vehicles.

"First of all, I would like to express my satisfaction with the implementation of the project of the Germany-based MAN, which represents a significant impetus to the development of Danilovgrad and entire Montenegro. Having MAN in Montenegro and Danilovgrad is indeed not only a privilege, but a good indicator of the direction our economy is taking," Prime Minister Marković stressed.

He added that this sales and service centre would give an incentive to the sustainability of this investment, as well as the economy of the entire municipality of Danilovgrad.

The Prime Minister also referred to the development of the municipality and said that in the next few years over 30 million EUR would be invested in capital infrastructure in Danilovgrad. The reconstruction of the Danilovgrad - Podgorica road is planned to get a four-lane boulevard, as well as the completion of the old road between the capital city and this municipality, which will be a strong incentive for a new quality of life in Danilovgrad and investments.

"Our economy is growing. For the past two years, we have had average growth rates of 4.8%, which is among the top five growth rates in Europe. We do not want it to be a momentum, but continuity," PM Marković underscored.

The Prime Minister said that the indicators in the first quarter of this year show that Montenegro has significantly higher growth in all sectors compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, which means that this year will result in a high growth rate.

"This means new jobs, a better and more sustainable budget and a better life for citizens. The Government will work to maintain this tempo, improve the business environment and enable foreign investors to have all the conditions for business and maintenance of its operation," the Prime Minister of Montenegro concluded.

09 May 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović met with President of Albania Ilir Meta in Tirana on the eve of the meeting between leaders of the Brdo - Brioni process.

President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović expressed satisfaction with the continuity of the high-level meetings, which enabled the further development of bilateral relations between two friendly neighboring countries.

"Montenegro and the Republic of Albania do not have open bilateral issues, and such dynamic bilateral cooperation can be used for further improvement of relations, as well as for joint support and encouragement to the reform processes in the Region, and its stability," said President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović.

Albanian President Ilir Meta, with the pleasure of strengthening friendly relations, especially highlighted the attitude of Montenegrin authorities towards the Albanian minority in Montenegro, as well as the joint commitment to resolving regional issues, which are a prerequisite for overall stability and further integration in the EU. Albania, together with the international community, counts on the constructive role of Montenegro and President Đukanović personally in resolving open issues and the process of further integration of the region.

The High officials emphasized the importance of the greater commitment and presence of the EU in the Western Balkans, which is crucial for the European perspective of all Western Balkans countries. In this context, they stressed the importance of the recent meeting in Berlin, assessing the positive agreement on the future meeting in Paris, which could result in progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, to the common good of the entire region.

Representatives of almost all state institutions in Montenegro will participate in the annual simulation exercise for managing crisis scenarios - Crisis Management Exercise (CMX 2019) organized by NATO. The NATO exercise lasts until May 16.

"The exercise is of a staff type and does not imply engaging forces and resources on the field. Throughout the process of consultation and decision-making at a strategic level, representatives of almost all state institutions, as well as representatives of Montenegro in NATO commands and staffs will participate in the exercise, said the Ministry of Defense.

The minister Predrag Boškovic is the holder of administrative and technical preparations for the realization of this exercise.

During the exercise at the level of the Alliance, procedures of consultations and political and military decision-making within the alliance and with partner countries, are being tested at a strategic level.

"CMX 2019" will use a fictional but realistic scenario set out in Articles 4 and 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, focusing on the challenges of collective defense, taking into account decisions made at its summits.

"CMX 2019" will include civilian and military personnel in the capitals of the member states, NATO headquarters and strategic commands, but, as with the previous exercises of this type, will not deploy forces.

Montenegro, for the first time, participated in NATO's crisis management exercise in 2017 ("CMX 17").

This is the 22nd time that NATO organizes this kind of exercise since 1992, according to the Alliance site.

Text by Milos Rudovic, on May 8th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, under its “Trade Facilitation Program”, awarded the most successful partner banks on three continents.

HIPOTEKARNA BANK was awarded as the most active bank in Montenegro. Prizes were awarded on May 7^th, ahead of the EBRD's annual conference and business forum, held in Sarajevo from 8^th to 9^th May 2019.

The award for the most active bank in Montenegro was received by Ana Golubovic, Executive Director of the Sector for Legal Affairs and Financial Markets in Hipotekarna Bank. She stressed that through this program the Montenegrin economy has the opportunity to realize business relations with its partners in a simpler and cheaper manner:

"We are pleased that Hipotekarna Bank is the winner of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Award for the third consecutive year. The award is proof of our dedication to promoting trade in Montenegro and the region. In this way, we strengthen regional integration, facilitate international business and encourage trade growth.

The Trade Facilitation Program (TFP) was established by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 1999 to promote trade towards, from and between the countries where the EBRD invests.

Through this program, EBRD secures guarantees from international banks and short-term loans to selected banks for transfers to local exporters and distributors.

Text by Promo sadrzaj, on May 8th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The proposed amendment to the Law on Internal Trade, which foresees that trades will not work on Sundays and state holidays, is included in the agenda of a parliamentary session that will begin on Thursday.

The Ministry of Economy, which has prepared this draft law, will be obliged to adopt a by-law, within two months after the law enters into force, with precise exemptions, that is, to define those trades that will work, and which sell the goods necessary for the everyday life of the citizens. They are pharmacies, bakeries, petrol stations, groceries, newsstands, flower shops,  etc.

The Chamber of Commerce Board has asked to be legally defined that Sunday and public holidays are non-working days.

Text by Marija Mirjacic, on May 7th 2019, read more at Vijesti