How to be trendy and live up to the present times and respect the principles of faith, whether the determination of the faith of a child from the parents of various religions is a matter of religious or cultural legacy, whether science will continue to provoke religion or science will prevail and become contradictory to religion, are some of the questions of the young people who were in the focus of the panel discussion "Faith in the Youth" at the House of Culture in Bar.

Organized by the NGO "Bar’s Cool Tour ", the questions were answered by Mirceta Sljivancanin, coordinator of the Montenegrin-coastal Metropolitan Katihet’s Committee, the Islamic Community's counselor Reis Hafiz Sulejman Bugari and Don Ivan Vukcevic from the Archdiocese of Bar.

They emphasized that respect, love and dialogue are the essence of faith, for which, as it has been said, "besides the free will that has been given to everyone," the most significant role belongs to the family.

"Be open-minded, but more open-hearted to everyone different from you. Arm yourself with knowledge and love, because the more you get to know each other, the more you become aware of yourself," the panel participants said.

While pointing out that this is "another proof that Bar is a symbol of inter-religious harmony", Ferida Perocevic from the NGO "Bar’s Cool Tour " thanked everyone for the understanding and support of the Montenegrin-coastal Metropolitan, Mejlis of the Islamic Community and the Bishop's Ordinariate.

She pointed out that the initiator of such a dialogue was a pupil from the Gymnasium "Niko Rolovic" Azra Rastoder.

Bar’s religious dignitaries welcomed participants and visitors of the panel.

The archpriest Slobodan Zekovic thanked the youth "as they realized that faith is the cornerstone of the human being and the overall existence".

The main imam of Bar, Muidin ef. Milaimi, said that religious dignitaries from Bar continue the tradition of Bar "and by showing our example to the next generations that we must live together, no matter what our name is and whose confessions we belong to." On behalf of the archbishop of Bar Roko Djonlesaj, don Keljmende Spaci told the youth that faith is "the remedy of souls and bodies" and told them to believe and pray to God "if they want a better and quieter life".

Text by Radomir Petric, on May 4th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

May 5, 2019 - The NGO Hands from Herceg Novi invites you to the fourth Primavera Feast, which is scheduled for next weekend, May 11th and 12th. The event includes outdoor activities, handicraft exhibitions and tastings delicacies of wild herbs, as well as educational programs. In cooperation with the Agency for Protection and Development of Orjen and the City Café, which hosts the festival, Hands are organizing a festival devoted to spring, interesting for all generations. 

May 5, 2019 - The Chedi Hotel in Lustica Bay is hosting a two-day antique and art fair, bringing together exhibitors from the Balkans. The exhibition presents valuable collections of collectors as well as handicrafts of high artistic value and works by renowned artisans of art and applied art, including the artist from Tivat, Ivica Aranđus.

04 May 2019 - Tourists who want to bring their pets to their holiday in Montenegro are finally getting a chance to bring their pets to the sandy beaches! According to the latest announcement, the first pet-friendly swimming areas on the Montenegrin coast will be arranged within the summer 2019 season!

The Strategy for Sustainable Beach Management, developed by the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro, will bring a number of nudist beaches, family swimming resorts, public city swimming areas, and for the first time in Montenegro - pet-friendly swimming areas!

Three pet-friendly swimming areas will be opened in the Municipality of Budva, according to Ivana Lazović from the Coastal Zone Management Enterprise.

As Lazović pointed out during an interview for Radio Slobodna Evropa, there will be a fully functional pet-friendly swimming area within the Slovenska beach, which will have all the necessary infrastructure. “Another pet-friendly beach resort is planned on the Buljarica beach, but we are still waiting for a tenant. The third pet-friendly beach in Budva will be in front of the Hotel Avala," Lazović highlighted.

As announced by the Coastal Zone Management Enterprise, each pet-friendly swimming area (beach) will have to have prominently displayed behavioural rules for owners and their dogs, cleaning equipment, showers, food and water containers, and toys for the pets.

For many tourists around the world, going on summer or winter holidays means taking their pet on a journey as well. Aleksandar Zeković, who often travels with his dog outside of Montenegrin borders concluded that, when it comes to pets, Montenegrin tourism, but also society as a whole, falls behind compared to the rest of the world.

During an interview for Radio Slobodna Evropa, Zeković said: "When you want to book an accommodation in a different country, the first thing I check is whether the hotel is pet-friendly. Luckily, a significant number of hotels abroad is open to pets, which allows me to organize my trip in a quality way. In Montenegro, on the other hand, I can rarely find accommodation, private or hotel, in which I can spend time with my pet. We’re just not there yet as a society.”

According to the data from the website "Tourism Review", in Germany, France, Italy and Austria, more than 40% of hotels accept pets. In major European cities like Berlin, over 50 percent of the total accommodation capacity is pet-friendly.

The data also shows that Germany tops the list of top 10 countries in the world where hotels accept pets. The second and third places are also European countries - Italy and Austria, while among the 10 are also the Netherlands, Russia and Greece.

04 May 2019 - Istanbul painter Renan Ertosun will present her work to the Podgorica public with an exhibition of paintings "Speed, colour and movement". The exhibition will be a showcase for the Turkish artist opening on Monday, May 6 at the exhibition hall of the Cultural and Informational Centre Budo Tomović at 6 pm.

Renan Ertosun paintings put a focus on colours, shapes, and light. She has been painting from a young age, and as she likes to say, her “desire to paint is an unstoppable impulse just like breathing”. Ertosun graduated from the Ankara University Faculty of Pharmacy, but she never gave up painting. From 1987, she started working together in the workshops of painters such as Mine Arasan, Bahattin Odabaşı, Yusuf Taktak and Ekrem Kahraman. During the late 90s and early 2000s, she participated in many individuals/joint exhibitions and art fairs both within Turkey and internationally. The artist ensures her works at the studio in Asmalimescit, Beyoglu, Istanbul. Her paintings were exhibited in Autoshow in 2003, in Mercedes-Benz Showroom, Etiler, "Bir İstanbul Masalı" Serial for ATV Television, in various collections both in Turkey and abroad such as TUYAP Art Museum, SAV Automobile Museum, hotels and private collections.

Racing, Formula 1, fast cars, but also yachts and planes are in the focus of her work, and Ertosun focuses on their form, speed, colour, excitement and adrenaline that they symbolize. The motto "speed, colour and movement" become recognizable for her work. Renan developed a contemporary style of painting, featuring a fusion of vibrant colours and light, as well as dynamic brush strokes.

The exhibition at the Cultural Centre Budo Tomović will be open from May 6 to 12.

03 May 2019 - At the end of September 2019, Herceg Novi could host a birthday celebration of the largest carnival family in the world, FECC - Dies Natalis 2019, if the Montenegrin presentation wins over Italy and Macedonia, which also submitted their presentations.

The final decision will be made after the presentation, which will be held at the end of June at the convention of the Federation of European Carnival Cities - FECC, in the Turkish city of Yalova.

The president of the NGO Maškare, Ivan Peulić recently spoke with the members of the International Board of FECC, Budva Municipality President, Marko Bato Carević and representatives of the Tourist Organization of Budva on the topic of following 17th International Travel Carnival Festival.

"Support has certainly come from representatives of the FECC of Montenegro. At the convention in Turkey, we will present Herceg Novi and Montenegro as possible destinations of this event. An official meeting was held today at Hotel Alexander with FECC president Lars Algel. The meeting was also attended by FECC President Montenegro Branko Đurica, Vice President of the International Board of FECC Josip Silov, as well as members of the board Aleksandar Cicimov and Aleksandar Vasović," said Peulić for Radio Jadran.

He is convinced that Herceg Novi could be the host of this event, because there is a great chance for this to happen.

"A good "basis" for this is our jubilee Feast of Mimosa, after which there are plenty of positive impressions, and we must try to design a better programme for this weekend and present Herceg Novi as a desirable destination. The birthday of FECC every year moves to another country. As far as I know now, we have a better impression compared to Italy and Macedonia, and I hope that 25 nations will support the convention." pointed out Peulić.

The Herceg Novi Municipality already accepted the proposal and unofficially supported the candidacy in March during the Mimosa Feast, while the support was provided by the Directorate of the 50th Feast of Mimosa, the President of the Municipality, Stevan Katić and Vice President Miloš Konjević.

"Maškare" are also participating in the 17th International Travel Carnival and 18th Spring Night under Masks.

"The carnival officially began last night, the programme on the streets of Budva, the restaurant and cafes that were full of food. Abrum was led by Carnival Director Marija Pjerotić and a delegation from the International Board of FECC. The carnival atmosphere already staggered last night with numerous masks that continued the party in the old town's streets. "Satiri" is one of 72 carnival groups from Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro," concluded Peulić.

At 7.30 PM a large carnival rally from the main Post Office to the Square of the Painter is planned, and at 11.30 PM "The Carnival Show" is scheduled. Programme leaders and hosts will be members of The Books of Books.

03 May 2019 - The entrance to the Adventure Park Vrbanj, in the hinterland of Herceg Novi, is still free, although the payment was due to begin on April 1st. The reason for this is because city councilors in Herceg Novi have not yet given their consent to the suggested price list, which should be done as a follow-up to the assembly session on May 8th.

Prices in the adventure park will, as previously announced, be 5 EUR for children, 10 EUR for adults, while people of Herceg Novi will be able to achieve a 50% discount with an ID card.

The Agency for Development and Protection of Orjen is working intensively on improving infrastructure and introducing new content. By the end of April, two toilets should be delivered, as well as a 30 m2 log cabin, which will be used as the storage for the equipment, bicycles and office space.

"We are forced to carry the equipment with us every day, which is not practical. It is expensive equipment, which must be present in the Adventure Park all the time. We also have a guard who resides in a small kiosk, which is in poor condition, but we leave some things there at a daily level. Next to the hut, we will try to set up two toilets by the end of April," the director of the Agency, Milja Vitorović said.

By the beginning of the main tourist season, part of the main road to the park should be expanded in some places so that large buses can bring visitors uninterruptedly. So far, two buses of Blueline are driving to the park, which departs from the main bus station on Saturday and Sunday at 9.15 AM and 3.30 PM, while they are returning at 10 AM and 4.15 PM. On regular days the regular traffic lines are being followed.

Vitorović believes that by the Adventure Week, which was announced for May 31, June 1 and 2, everything should be completed, in order to welcome first the Adriatic canyoning project partners, as well as the main season.

For the end of May, larger organized groups of visitors from Dubrovnik were announced. For the time being, the park is visited mainly by domestics, people of Herceg Novi, but also people from Trebinje and Dubrovnik, with fewer guests from Russia and Germany. Since the beginning of April, 305 adrenaline adventures have been used, mostly by children.

Four instructors are currently engaged in the park. The training process for two more instructors is underway, who should be employed during the season.

Milica Boca from Herceg Novi, with her brother Dragisa and sister Bojana, organized a cleaning action at nine locations in Herceg Novi and its surroundings this winter. 

With friends and anyone interested in making the city cleaner, they collected waste in Ratisevina, cleaned Mojdeš road, the beach and park under Tito's villa, the viewpoint on Podi, the road to Zvinjama and more.

It all began in February when Milica saw dumped plastic bags around the local road Suscepan - Ratisevina where she walked on her way to work. The three of them organized and purchased bags, gloves, dressed accordingly and started the action.

"We were surprised by the amount of garbage. Because of the overgrown vegetation we could not see the extent of the waste that had formed along the way for years. Most of it consisted of baby diapers, but also plastic furniture, car parts, tires, refrigerators," says Milica.

They were joined by other fellow citizens later on.

"One guy came by bike from Zelenika to clean the area around Suscepan," says Milica.

In a few days, they acquired a waste truck that the Workers of Cleaning Service drove to the dump.

"When this area was cleaned, somehow it forced us to clean up some of the other sites in our municipality, places where the workers from the Cleaning service “do not reach”. In addition to our friends, the following actions were attended by people of different ages and various professions, including the students of the Faculty of Management, senior members of the Dance Club “Diano”. We all share the same opinion that civic activism can contribute to better living conditions," says Milica, and points out that they are apolitical and do not want to be put on any "side".

They are not even discouraged that in some places they have cleaned, disrespectful citizens throw away garbage again.

"I do not think penalties would solve the problem of waste disposal. Raising ecological awareness, fostering civic activism and education, especially in schools and among young people, are a better way," says Milica.

She thinks that there is a general lack of civic initiatives and non-political actions.

An eternal lover of nature, optimist, Milica will soon organize the jubilee tenth action. During the summer she will take a break, and in the autumn she will again get engaged in cleaning the environment.

She is also convinced that with the actions, a circle of positive energy is being spread, and she is ready to "clean all of Montenegro".

Milica graduated at the Faculty of Management and works in the family firm “Sky Clock” as an assistant in the administration. She has a wide circle of interests, and the love for nature and the need to contribute to its preservation she inherited from her parents.

"I watched my mother always ready to clean the space around the house and take part in similar actions," points out Milica.

Text by Slavica Kosic, on May 2nd 2019, read more at Vijesti

Activists and nature lovers, led by Zeljko Starcevic, continued to arrange the Kotobilj spring, which is located on an ancient pedestrian route connecting Herceg Novi with the hinterland.

In the storm that occurred in Herceg Novi in early December last year, this area was also damaged - it was covered with large amounts of mud that were deposited from the floods and the vegetation was destroyed.

"We have now set up semi-pipes for draining rainwater with the support of “Water supply and sewage system”, and at the end of winter, the “Utility housing service” cleaned the floods from the basin, after which the volunteers built a stone wall around the plateau as a protection from the torrents”, said Starcevic adding that the plateau was expanded with the furniture and re-planted rosemary.

This site is located near the place where Kotobilj Battle took place, and although there is still no memorial, Starcevic hopes it will be placed exactly on the resort area which is being restored.

The spring was arranged in 1884, at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, when the stone benches and water troughs were installed.

It was seriously damaged one century later when it was buried with waste material from the then local quarry. Then in 2002, it was again restored by volunteers, specifically by the members of PK "Subra", so that in 2006, when breaking a new route to Trebinje, it was cut off from this communication and the old pedestrian road to Kameno. Through the large water drain under a new road, a walkway has been made, and the stairs are completed in the extension. The space was completed in 2016 through the project "Developing Low Carbonic Tourism in Montenegro" and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Kotobilj Battle – On September 15^th, 1687, commenced the liberation of Herceg Novi from the long-lasting power of the Ottoman Empire.

The army made up of Herzegovinians, Montenegrins, Venetians, Kotor police and local insurgents, surprised and defeated the Army of Hussein Topal Pasa, thus preventing it from gaining strength in the Turkish army in Herceg Novi.

Fifteen days later, Herceg Novi was liberated.

Kotobilj is a place of special importance for citizens of Herceg Novi, and it is also found in Njegos's piece "Mountain Wreath".

Text by Slavica Kosic, on May 3rd 2019, read more at Vijesti

This year’s Sedona Forum was opened by Mr Volker, who reminded the participants that this extremely significant security and political event, organized for the seventh time, traditionally gathered the political leaders and representatives of the business and academic community, to seek a response to tough and major challenges in the world.

President Đukanović also attended the special gala dinner along with the most respected high officials and was welcomed by the Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey and the President of Arizona State University, Dr. Michael M. Crow.

President Đukanović also attended the special gala dinner along with the most respected high officials and was welcomed by the Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey and the President of Arizona State University, Dr. Michael M. Crow.

Mr Đukanović had a bilateral meeting with Mr Kurt Volker, who conveyed greetings of the U.S. State Secretary, Mike Pompeo, and expressed his support to Montenegro in facing challenges on its road to achieving strategic goals.

During the meeting, President Đukanović put forward the current events in Montenegro and also talked about significant results that the country has achieved since the renewal of its independence, both – on the internal and the international level. He also mentioned the projections for the further economic and democratic development of Montenegro and progress in the negotiation talks with the European Union.

They both exchanged opinions on the current situation in the region and agreed on the method for resolving the remaining open issues, noting that the situation itself and the European perspective as well, needed joint action of the EU and the USA.

“Moreover, the Sedona Forum is invitation-only and discussions on all issues are held at closed meetings, that is, they cannot be cited or published,” Đukanović’s office concluded in a statement.

Text by CdM on May 4, 2019, read more here.