08 April 2019 - Volleyball Club Budva won the Montenegrin Cup after defeating Jedinstvo Franca 3-0 (25:16, 25:19, 25:22) in the grand finale in the Mediterranean Sports Center. Players of the Volleyball Club Budva returned the volleyball cup trophy to this city.

All of this was made possible thanks to the new club - a club originated with the desire to return the volleyball trophy to the capital of Montenegrin tourism, which disappeared with the closing of the most successful Montenegrin volleyball club, the Budva Riviera.

In addition to the defeat in the Cup final, the team of Darko Prebiračević was eliminated in the semi-finals of the playoffs from Budućnost Capital Plaza, with two maximal defeats. In the decisive matches in the season, the team from Bijelo Polje could not count on Montenegrin national player Luka Šuljagić because of his illness.

Volleyball Club Budva will have the opportunity to win the double crown, and the final series against Budućnost, to three victories, will start on April 13th.

As far as the match is concerned, starting from the first set, there were no dilemmas about who would come out victorious.

Budva started with 5:0, which played without injured captain Jovan Delić, and continued to 8:2. Jedinstvo returned to 13:11, but the host scored with six points in a row for 19:11 which was too much for their opponent.

The second set was pretty equal until the score of 16:14 for Budva, when the host team scored 4 points in a row for 20:14 which eventually gave them the set.

It seemed that Jedinstvo in the third set would prolong the uncertainty. The team from Bijelo Polje opened this set better than the other ones, quickly scored 6:11, followed by 12:18 and at this point everyone thought that the fourth set was already on its way.

However, the team from Budva did not give up, and with 5 consecutive points, they first reduced their opponents' lead at 15:18, and then switched from 15:19 to 21:19. The guests held until 22:21, when Budva reached the first match point with two consecutive points. This match point was defended by the team from Bijelo Polje, but the other one was at 24:22, when the young Ivan Zvicer scored the match winner.

Alen Didović with 16 points was the best in the winning team, Ivan Urtado and Zvicer added 10, Dejan Jocić 9. The best in the defeated team was Bojan Strugar with 16 points.

Technician Shun Imamura was named the best player of the men's final.

08 April 2019 - According to the official announcement by the Public Works Directorate, National Park Biogradska gora will launch a new segment of the tourist offer for this site, tourist land trains, by April 20.

"The delivery of all necessary equipment for the completion of tourist land trains, which will be used to transport visitors from Kraljevo kolo to Biogradsko jezero, started last Friday in the Biogradska gora National Park, and will be completed in the next ten days. After all the trains have been assembled and examined, we will organise an official test drive, after which the land trains will be officially delivered to the user company," said the announcement from the Public Works Directorate.

The tourist land trains, according to the report, consist of a locomotive, two trailers for the transport of passengers with 20 seats and one trailer with 16 seats for persons with disabilities.

"The total value of the vehicles, according to the contract of the Public Works Directorate with the best bidder, Montenegrin Telekom, amounts to 549.757 EUR, with the delivery date by April 20," the statement said.

The largest share of the investment, about 419.000 EUR was provided by the Government of Montenegro from the capital budget.

"The rest of 130.800 EUR is financed by Montenegrin Chamber of Economy, based on the grant agreement with the National Parks of Montenegro, within the project" Development of low-carbon tourism in Montenegro ", where the UNDP is an implementing partner," the statement said.

The Public Works Directorate conducted the tender procedure for procurement of two tourist land trains.

07 April 2019 - Minister of Defence Predrag Bošković participated in the Bell Helicopter Textron Demonstration Day, organised by the Ministry of Defence, the Embassy of Canada and Bell Helicopter Europe. 

At the military airport "Knjaz Danilo" in Golubovci, numerous guests and representatives of the media had the opportunity to see characteristics of the Bell 412 EPI, which is owned by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, but also the new type 505 Jet Ranger X. 

Minister Bošković stressed that the fleet of gazelles, which the Montenegrin Air Force owns are rather old since they are older than 30 years and that the Ministry of Defence is considering replacing the entire fleet of gazelles with helicopters of similar characteristics over the next five years, and one of them is undoubtedly Bell 505. This will provide more safety and security to the pilots in carrying out tasks.

"Our armed forces are small but, as part of the Alliance, I believe that we have a significant role in this part of the Western Balkans, which we can perform with this type of equipment even better," Minister Bošković said. 

"Everybody helped us do this job quickly and easily," Bošković said, pointing out that the entire job was done for an incredible period of fewer than nine months.

Furthermore, cooperation with the Canadian Commercial Corporation and the Embassy of Canada enabled the Armed Forces of Montenegro and its aviation to be the first country in the Balkans to have Bell's multifunctional helicopters, the 412 EPI.

The Demonstration Day was also attended by Ambassador of Canada to Montenegro Kati Csaba and Bell managing director for Europe Duncan Van de Velde. Ambassador Csaba pointed out that Canada will continue to support Montenegro's overall efforts to improve the Montenegrin defence system, and expressed its satisfaction that the cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence resulted in the procurement of three multifunctional helicopters. 

Van de Velde said that his company is particularly proud of cooperation with Montenegro, and expressed hopes that the collaboration will be continued and improved in the future.

08 April 2019 - During the first week of April, the Agency for the Development and Protection of Orjen has launched a promotional hiking tour within the Nature Park Orjen. The hiking tour, named Treasure from the Heart of Orjen, follows a route from the Vrbanj Adventure Park to the foot of the Subrin Amphitheatre, i.e. the Snow Cave and includes the incredible presentation of cocktails Zmajevo ždrijelo (English: Dragon’s Throat) and Gorski Sladoled (English: Mountain Ice Cream) created with the snow which piles up in the pit all year round.

The special guest of the first promotional tour was a blogger from Australia, Mikki, who resides in Herceg Novi, who otherwise runs the blog Snooze And Explore, and she described this fantastic experience in a post titled Discovering the Distinctive Beauty of Orjen Mountain.

In addition to the launched promotional hiking tour from the Vrbanj Adventure Park to the foot of Subrin Amphitheatre, the Orjen Agency for Development and Protection is planning to launch another hiking tour within the Orjen Nature Park, which will be organised on the Orjen saddle and symbolically carry the name "Carev put" (The Road of Tzar). The tour was named after the road that was built by the Imperial Austro-Hungarian Army. In addition to an enjoyable lazing around and sunbathing at Orjen pool, the Road of Tzar journey will include a tour of the abandoned Austro-Hungarian construction site and presentations of cocktails and ice cream named "Orjen" and "Prinčev sladoled" (English: Prince’s Ice Cream), which will be made in the cave of Sniježnica.

The representatives of the Agency for Development and Protection of Orjen emphasize that the scheduled bus line Herceg Novi - Vrbanj started operating from the first weekend in April for all the locals from Herceg Novi as well as for guests staying in the city. The line will be operated on Saturdays and Sundays with departure from the main bus station at 09:15 am and 03:30 pm, while the return from Vrbanj is scheduled for 10:00 am and 04:15 pm. The Agency invites all interested individuals to visit the Adventure Park and spend a day or weekend in the Nature Park Orjen.

07 April 2019 - Minister of Culture of Montenegro Aleksandar Bogdanović participates in the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2019, at the invitation of UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura Al Kaabi. This year's Summit discusses the role of culture in global challenges and the impact of creativity and technology on positive changes in the world. 

At the Summit, Minister Bogdanović talked with the representatives of the participating countries about similar experiences in the areas of development of cultural and artistic creativity and creative industries and the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Opportunities for cooperation on joint projects of creative industries, promotion of cultural diversity, protection and conservation of cultural heritage and digitization were also discussed. 

The Summit is organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge of the United Arab Emirates in cooperation with global partners the Royal Academy of Arts, UNESCO, Guggenheim, Economist and Google. The summit will be held from 7 to 11 April 2019. 

Ambassador of Montenegro to the United Arab Emirates Dušanka Jeknić is also participating in the Summit. 

On the margins of the Summit, Minister Bogdanović will have bilateral meetings with UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura Al Kaabi and UAE Minister of State Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh.

April 8, 2019 - Continuing our look at the real estate market opportunities through the catalogue of RE/MAX Montenegro, a visit inland to a strategic location. 

While the majority of buyers in Montenegro are looking for something with a gorgeous sea view, there are also plenty of buyers who are looking to buy in other parts of the country. Inland Montenegro is increasingly popular as well, and sometimes a location enabling owners to reach a number of destinations with relative ease is an important factor to consider when purchasing. 

And if you are looking for a location which offers good access to the main centres of Budva, Tivat and Kotor, as well as magical Jaz beach, there are few better than Radanovici, from where this week's RE/MAX Property of the Week comes from. In the words of the official sales description: 

This is an excellent location because it is central to almost anywhere that you would want to be. It's 2.4 kilometres to Jaz beach, which was voted BEST BEACH IN EUROPE, by Lonely Planet. Budva is 5 kilometres away, Tivat and Porto Montenegro 15 kilometres and Unesco town of Kotor 14 km.

The landscaping and gardens are superb, its a citrus garden and has a sprinkler system to keep the grass nice and green all year round. The villa is built for all year round living, it has very expensive Italian furniture custom made and the chandeliers are made of rock crystal by 'Shonbek'.

This property has it ALL there is not anything you would want from high speed internet to bamboo parquet flooring, Italian ceramics, plasma tv's, air conditioning, two types of video surveillance, alarm system with an output to the phone, electric gates and central heating.

Front and rear gardens both have gazebos to relax and enjoy your stay at the house plus you have parking for 5 to 8 cars. This 5 bedroom dream villa has a technical utility room, 3 bathrooms, WC, dressing room and an en suite bathroom together with 3 external balconies.

Community Description

Lastva Grbaljska is a small place located near the capital of tourism in Montenegro - Budva. What particularly adorns this place and gives it a charm is full privacy on the one hand, and easy accessibility of all city content on the other. 

The most beautiful beaches, the most popular tourist centers and the most important cultural and historical heritage are only a few minutes away from this beautiful place.

For more photos, information and to book a viewing, check out the original RE/MAX listing. Price 570,000 euro. 

April 8, 2019 - Real estate in Montenegro is booming once more. An overview of the market with RE/MAX Montenegro founder, Kevin Buttigieg.

So how is the real estate market in Montenegro? Who is buying, and what are the popular properties? What are the trends, and where are the places to watch? One man with more insight than most is RE/MAX Montenegro founder, Kevin Buttigieg, who was kind enough to answer a few questions. 

1. There was a boom in real estate over a decade ago, and business seems to be picking up again. Give us a general overview of the current market.1. There was a boom in real estate over a decade ago, and business seems to be picking up again. Give us a general overview of the current market.

We have noted that the market has been growing in recent years, with lower interest rates being partially responsible for that, and every year Montenegro is becoming increasingly popular with tourists and also as a second-home destination. Many international buyers are interested in the country due to its lifestyle and location whilst savvy investors are attracted by its investment-friendly climate and positive business practices which have become more pronounced over the past couple of years. Add to this the new Economic Citizenship Program, which started in January this year, and Montenegro is again at the center of attention. 

2. There is a perception in the West that Montenegro is a Russian playground, with most of the foreign buyers coming from Russia. And yet I hear an increasing number of international languages with each visit. How big is the Russian share of the market, and which other countries are buying?

Russians are still here but they no longer dominate the international buyer's market in Montenegro. In the last few years we have noted an increase of clients from Turkey and China as well as from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is interesting to mention that clients from UK and Scandinavian countries have started showing an interest in investing in real estate in Montenegro. It is truly an interesting mixture of nationalities.

(Lustica Bay)

3. Back in 2005, apartments and stone houses were the most popular buys. Since then, there have been some massive investments in the country - Porto Montenegro, Lustica Bay and Portonovi, for example. How attractive are these as a) investments and b) places to live in your opinion?

Projects like the ones you mentioned are great examples of successful investment stories provided that the entry-level prices remain reasonable. International buyers are looking into these projects for investment opportunities with potential positive margins whilst the property management services and other benefits lower the risk involved and provide the peace of mind. Second-home buyers still often opt for independent properties such as old stone houses along the beautiful coast making the most of the proximity to the beaches. 

4. Wealthier investors may be interested to know that it is possible to get citizenship with a sizable investment in real estate. As an EU-candidate country, this will obviously be of interest to some. Can you tell us more about this, and are many people going down this route?

The citizenship by investment program was launched in January and we understand that this will cater for up to 2.000 applicants. Requirements are: €100.000 application fee which will be used for development of under-developed areas + a minimum of €450.000 investment into development projects in Podgorica or coastal area or a minimum of €200.000 investment into development projects in northern or central zone of the country. These types of programs are known to help the national economy grow and set a positive trend.

(Boka Bay - Photo credit Marko Stefanek)

5. How easy is the buying process in 2019, and how easy is it to guarantee clean title?

The process has improved significantly compared to previous years but buyers might still encounter some minor obstacles. A foreign buyer who is not familiar with local policies and procedures would be well advised to utilise our services which are intended to provide a comprehensive solution to our clients’ requirements from the moment they get in touch with us. International clients who are already familiar with the RE/MAX brand appreciate the quality of service they will receive from us and they contact us early on so as to ensure a smooth purchase process. RE/MAX is known all over the globe as a real estate company with highly-trained and responsive agents who are able to provide a transparent and stress-free sales or purchase experience to their clients. The story is nothing different with RE/MAX Montenegro.

6. Give us three property hot spots at the moment, and tell us what makes them especially interesting.

The coast is still the most wanted part of Montenegro by international buyers, with Tivat and Budva riviera being the absolute leaders. There are stunning properties along the coast at prices that are impossible to find in other places in Europe.

When one factors in the privacy and the unobstructed sea views that some villas can offer, then these properties become especially attractive.

In respect of local residential and commercial properties, Podgorica is in high demand since it is the most populated city in Montenegro as well as being the business center of the country.

7. How do you see the market progressing over the next five years?

The real estate market is taking off again. Investing in real estate is known to be one of the safest types of investment and many are choosing this method of ‘saving money’. The past couple of years have seen a steady growth of the market and it looks like it will be going in the same direction for the next few years to come with increased demand driving a corresponding increase in prices. The number of current important infrastructure projects combined with the increased tourism development, such as the projects for the new airports, are further contributing to this trend.

8. And finally, let's see what you have to offer! Introduce us to three of your best properties currently on your books.

Few of the most beautiful properties on the market are located within the municipality of Bar. One of them is this three bedroom villa with its own swimming pool and stunning sea view - Find out more.

Another impressive property is this six bedroom stone villa located in the hills above Budva. Its location provides jaw-dropping views and perfect tranquility and privacy - Find out more.

An old stone house, completely renovated and professionally designed, has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and two large terraces - Find out more.

Kevin Buttigieg is also the Chairman of RE/MAX Malta and last year’s winner of the prestigious RE/MAX Global Residential and Commercial Property Sales award.

This year's 14th Book and Education Fair is designed to meet the different reading affinities. The slogan of the manifestation is "Do not believe everything you read on the Internet".

At the fair, there are about 100 exhibitors, numerous publishing houses, and a large number of authors from the region.

"This fair has grown into the most visited cultural manifestation in Montenegro, which is visited by tens of thousands of visitors every year. It is not the popularity of the fair which is the main thing that rejoices us, it is the fact that today it has gained a wider regional reputation and has become an indispensable hub of cultural recognition of our country internationally," said Nikola Nikolic, Art Director of the fair.

Dragica Milic, Director of the Directorate at the Ministry of Culture pointed out that the Montenegrin rulers had a particular inclination to print books: "It was one of our specialities which many great cultures can envy us. In addition to the establishment of scripts and printing houses, Montenegrin rulers also wrote books, and we know that some of these works represent the world's literary treasury today."

At the 14th International Book Fair in Podgorica, the Art Museum of Montenegro presents the works of the great artists of Montenegrin fine arts who marked not only Montenegro's but also regional and European art with their works. These are the artists whose works make a valuable part of the collection of Montenegrin fine arts of the art museum but also of the overall cultural heritage of Montenegro.

"On this occasion, the museum decided to come out of the established framework of the presentation and show their works to an artistically compatible but in atypical exposure ambience, a book fair among readers," said Anastazija Miranovic, director of the National Museum of Montenegro.

Vladimir Tabasevic, the winner of the award NIN, opened the Podgorica Book Fair.

Text by Info Biro, on April 5th 2019, read more at CdM

The Kolasin tourist offer of the upcoming summer will be more vibrant with another event. It is the mountain marathon "Bjelasica Ultra Trail", organized by the NGO "A New Beginning". This sport manifestation will be dedicated to professional and recreational racers but also all nature lovers. It will be held under the slogan "Attractive, Worldwide".  "The trail is an activity that combines running, and where there are steep slopes also for hiking. After Nordic skiing, it is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and has earned proper attention in the countries of our region. At the official ITRA (International Trail Running Association) website, almost a million and a half of professional racing drivers are registered, collecting ITRA points,"- explained the organizers.

By placing the manifestation on Bjelasica, they wanted, as they say, to emphasize the tourist potential of this mountain and Kolasin, but also on the healthy lifestyles that are promoted through this competition. After that manifestation, Kolasin is expected to be even better placed on the map of sports tourism. No less important is to point healthy lifestyles and the importance of staying in nature. Organizers hope that, in this way, they will contribute to the affirmation of running among the younger population. The mountain marathon, as planned, will be held from August 16th to 18th, and the organizers prepared three races for participants "passing through one of the most beautiful places in the Balkans".

"By participating in the race, competitors will be able to run through one of the three remaining rainforests in Europe, to admire the beauties of mountain lakes, and also to catch a break in one of the traditional Bjelasica katun. The first race, "Big Bear", 58km long, is intended for professional racers who are actively involved in this sport, the other of 37km, the "Little Bear" is for the recreational runners who plan to shift their borders, and the third race of 9km, "Family Trail" is intended for families and all other participants who want to spend quality time in the nature, " said NGO "A New Beginning". The fact that the race of "Big Bear" by ITRA is scored with three points and gives the manifestation international character.

Text by Dragana Scepanovic, on April 7th 2019, read more at Vijesti

Mitar Mirkovic from Niksic, who lives in Brezovik, has been engaged in the decoration of wood objects for twenty years, and a decade with pyrography - "writing using fire", as it is otherwise called the art of decorating wood or skin.

The art consists of the combustion of a substrate with a heated tip of a soldering iron, or a specially constructed device - pyrograph.

"When I was little they used to take me around the neighborhood to draw people. It was interesting to them that a child can do portraits. I was talented, but I went from Brezovik to the city to teach school, and Niksic was then a big city for me, and the devil took me away. I stopped schooling and when I was 17 and began to work." He changed several companies and did not last very long at these jobs, but he opened a carpentry workshop with his brother. At that time, he started to love trees. He began to make cuts, and then he got familiar with inlaid - an artistic craft of decorating objects made of wood. The first work he made was a Montenegrin coat of arms which, he says, is no wonder, as he, an old liberal, "poisoned himself with Montenegro a long time ago". He still protects this work, though it acknowledges that he did not "hit the right tree" because he took the ash tree.

"I use a media pen for inlaid, because it is stable, and it doesn’t bend. Many tried to do it, but they quickly quit, and I like to try out what a few can do. How many times I've been hurt because of that," Mirko recalls, remembering the detail that was his turning point in doing inlaid.

"I worked in one company and brought works to varnish them. They were seen by some people from the state security who were there, and my employer praised my works, they liked them and took them. One of them was in a high position, and then all the 'toadies' around him started shouting that they had work. I could not reach it. Now I rarely do it. I deal mostly with pyrography."

For pyrography, they say that it differs from painting because you do not have the right to make even one mistake. When the wood is burned, there is no turning back. Except, as Mirkovic said, if you do not add "your view" to the work, then the error is not a mistake. Depending on the temperature, as well as the top used, different tones are obtained, from the brightest to the darkest.

Pyrography requires a lot of patience and persistence. Mirko does not lack persistence, and this is surprising even for him since he is an energetic man.

"I started with a soldering iron, but it's a lot harder to work with. Then I got a pyrograph over the Internet. I make portraits, coats of arms, animals, but mostly monasteries and saints. Since people started to believe again, everyone wants religious motives. When a woman wants a congratulation, I do the job, because it's better to take it than some glasses or plates. People are thrilled. If I know what their St. Patron’s day is, then I do that particular saint, and if I do not know, then Ostrog Monastery, because you cannot miss with it."

He acknowledges that there is no work for which he is particularly attached, but his wife, therefore, keeps some which he does not want to sell. For works done in pyrography, interest has begun to decline in recent years, and, unfortunately, he had to find a job as a carpenter in a company. He prefers that he and his family can live from his hobby. "I hope my daughter will inherit my skills because she is talented at painting. The older son could be a politician because it seems to me that he was born for such a position, while the younger likes to work around cars. And I hope that I will deal with pyrography for another 120 years," says the 55-year-old.

"Metalac" would even sell the cow to watch Liverpool - Partizan

In addition to inlaid and pyrography, Mirko is a great fan of literature, he watches sport, listens to rock and heavy metal. He reads everything, from Joyce, through Alexander Dime, Harold Robins, to Remark. His mobile phone is ringing with the melody of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven".

"In addition to Zeppelin, I love Deep Purple. Among the bands from the region, there is “Atomic shelter”, the first band I saw live, then “EKV”. There is also Gibonni, who moved from heavy metal to some Mediterranean style. It seems I've become ‘softer’ over the years, so I like to listen to this type of music. I love when his lyrics burn me. There is, of course, 'Perper' that deserves to be more famous than it is because they are phenomenal," Mirko says, adding that he is happy that his children listen to the same music. In addition to "Sutjeska" and "Partizan", he has been a big fan of Liverpool since 1971.

"My big wish is to watch Liverpool play. If they would play against Partizan, I think I would sell a cow to watch the game. But only with 'Partizan', not with the 'Red Star'."

Text by Svetlana Mandic, on April 7th 2019, read more at Vijesti