06 April 2019 - Montenegro made a historic success by finding itself among the 32 teams bound for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be held in China from August 31 to September 15.

One of the key the contributors to this accomplishment is Bojan Dubljević.

In an interview for the Onogošt News Agency, the Montenegrin Centre said that he was surprised by the qualification for the World Cup. "I was more than surprised. No one believed in us, especially after the first match with Spain. The players left their heart on the field during the qualifications, and one of the key games was played in Slovenia when we were quite weakened as a team but still managed to beat the Slovenes. That was practically our ticket to China! We have achieved a historic success as a team and every player who took part in the team, from the first day to the last match, is responsible for that. Of course, we show great appreciation for the professional staff who did a great job," said Dubljević for Onogošt.

"The Red Team" will play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 with tough rivals and national teams that are regular participants of the World Cup, so they have to be prepared to take on unpredictable opponents.

Montenegro will play its first game against Greece, after which the national team will face New Zealand. At the end of the group competition, they will play against Brazil. "The group is extremely difficult, I don’t think we got off easy as we expected, but it is the World Cup and anything can happen. It is up to us to present Montenegro in the best way possible," said the long-time player of Valencia Basket who featured in the FIBA EuroBasket teams of 2013 and 2017.

Generally speaking, taking part at FIBA EuroBasket in 2011, 2013 and 2017 were tremendous accomplishments for Montenegro, yet making it through a grueling and at the same time exciting World Cup Qualifiers campaign to be a part of the 32-team field in China is exceptional.

"The credit goes to amazing guys, coaches, the atmosphere... I don't know if anyone can be prouder than me in the whole world. Thanks to the fans, they are the best in the world. Come with us to China," said Dubljević, inviting all the fans to support their team during the Cup.

Montenegro will be the country with the smallest population that plays at the World Cup.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Draw, presented by Wanda, takes place in Shenzhen, one of the competition's eight host cities, on Saturday, March 16.

April 6, 2019 - The eighth protest under the slogan Odupri Se - 97,000 will be held on 6 April at 7 pm on the platform in front of the Assembly of Montenegro in Podgorica. 

05 April 2019 - Podgorica is working on creating a new image of the city, and the local government representatives are primarily dedicated to enhancing the green fund, with the ambition for the Capital of Montenegro to be among the greenest cities in Europe. These conclusions were brought forth by the Deputy Mayor of Podgorica, Slađana Vujačić, at the Summit of Capital City Mayors of South East Europe, held April 5 and 6 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to Deputy Mayor Vujačić, it is of great importance for the city to emphasize its “green face”, and the local government is trying to find creative ways for the citizens to be fully involved in these processes. “We are working on the revival of forgotten urban spaces, developing alternative forms of traffic, creating new manifestations that bring together our fellow citizens and increase the interest of tourists, "she said.

As they said, they are also working on the realization of capital projects. "The most important among the capital projects are related to wastewater treatment, the supply of the boulevard approaches to the city from all sides, the project of converting biogas from the landfill into the electricity and the construction of a solar power plant. One of the projects I also have to highlight is the primary waste selection project. In the field of sports, we’re planning on building a tennis academy, reconstruction of the Small Sports Stadium, as well as building a national football stadium, "Vujačić added.

Deputy Mayor also stressed that the local government wants to address one of the biggest challenges in Podgorica - the problem of public transport, as well as the revival of the city centre.

"We will build an expo centre, shopping malls, an aquarium park, as well as more hotels in different parts of the city. Also, we have established business zones where investors are afforded benefits - Industrial Zone A, Agro-Industrial Zone, and Service-Storage Zone,” Vujačić explained.

The conclusions of the Summit also included the fact that Podgorica is a city attractive to investors, as it offers different models of cooperation, such as private-public partnership, foreign direct investment, and investments through the new ESCO method. The city also struggles with the unemployment problem, and so the local government launched projects such as the Business Incubator, the Centre for Competence and others aimed at motivating people to start their own business.

Deputy Mayor is convinced that with projects that Podgorica plans to realize in the forthcoming period, the city will be even faster to develop for the benefit of all citizens and their better future.

Summit of Mayors of South East Europe Capital Cities was launched to bring the major cities of the region closer together, working together to promote tourism potential, protect cultural heritage, develop the concept of smart cities and urban development, as well as the use of EU funds. Organizers of this event took into consideration that the major cities are becoming more and more important in global politics, have great potential for development, are easier to connect, are leaders in the field of energy, have similar challenges and goals, and in general, they are the generators of positive processes in the region.

05 April 2019 - The pro-Western president of Montenegro, who has defied Russia to steer his small country into NATO, has warned that the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is crucial for the bloc to protect itself from growing Russian and Chinese political and economic influence in the region.

Milo Đukanović told The Associated Press in an interview that Britain’s chaotic divorce from the EU and other crises in the bloc seem to have diminished the union’s enthusiasm to accept new members, but that Europe must not hand over the strategic region to other global players.

Đukanović said Russia and China have legitimate interests in the Balkans, where Russian political influence has grown, especially in neighboring Serbia. China, meanwhile, has spent heavily on infrastructure to increase its clout in central and Eastern Europe.

“But the question is not whether Russia, China or a third country have their interests in the Balkans. The question is why Europe is handing over that region to anyone else,” Đukanović said. “I believe this is primarily Europe’s interest.”

Đukanović insisted that if the Balkan countries — which went through a series of wars in the 1990s’ and are still lagging in reforms needed for EU entry — remain outside EU’s grasp, the bloc’s future would be jeopardized.

“The alternative is the destruction of Europe,” Đukanović said. “I think that Europe must protect itself from that destruction and must recognize its strategic interests.”

After joining NATO in 2017, Montenegro is the next in line to join the EU, with 2025 slated as the earliest possible date for entry. Serbia too could participate by 2025, while Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Bosnia have not yet reached that level of pre-entry negotiations.

However, France and some other EU states have voiced skepticism even about those dates in the wake of the turbulent British split from the bloc, warning that Europe must first deal with its problems before it can expand.

Đukanović insisted that the EU should pursue its enlargement policies regardless of the crisis.

“We must not treat this issue as a Montenegrin issue, or a Balkan issue, we must treat it as a European issue,” he warned. “There is no better consolidation of the European Union than its further unification.”

Đukanović, a veteran politician who has ruled Montenegro for 30 years, cited an alleged attempted coup in 2016 in Montenegro that he said was orchestrated by Russia’s military secret service as an example of Moscow’s “destructive” policies in the region.

Đukanović said, “there is no doubt” that Russia has been trying to prevent the Western Balkan nations from entering NATO. He said it is “clear” that Moscow has “destructive policies toward the EU, toward Europe’s unification and the Western values in general.”

Foreign powers, Đukanović suggested, are also playing a part in recent protests in Montenegro that seek his ouster from power over corruption allegations.

“A strategic political and cultural battle is still being fought in the Balkans,” he said.

Đukanović expressed hope that once resolved, the Brexit crisis will boost Europe’s unity rather than undermine it.

“Perhaps this experience with Brexit will strengthen the European Union,” said Đukanović. “I don’t see another European Union member rushing to repeat the British adventure.”

“It turns out that it is hard to enter the EU, but it’s even harder to leave,” he said.

Source: Associated Press

The school ship by the Navy of Montenegro, sailing boat "Jadran", sailed from its base in Tivat for a three-day cruise with the pupils from the Maritime High School of Kotor.

"The extraordinary cooperation of the Navy VCG and the Maritime High School continues this year as well. Third-grade students of the nautical and naval direction started sailing with the task of applying the knowledge acquired in the classroom through practical work on the ship," said the director of the school, Professor Veljko Botica.

Because this year's third-class generation is the most numerous in the history of this school, the regular annual tuition of students and their training in practice on "Jadran" had to be organized in three instead of the usual two groups. That is why the high school students who will sail in Montenegro's territorial waters from Boka to Ulcinj and back on “Jadran” will take shifts by the end of next week.

In the first group on board, there are 46 students - 23 machinists and 23 boaters, and with them on board, there are four professors. Among the cadets are also two young girls who diligently carry out all tasks together with their peers.

"On board, the students have been welcomed by the crew of Jadranwho is always in a good mood. They are under the command of Captain Zoran Ivanovsky, who is always ready to help the cadets adapt to the conditions of life and work on board," Botica said.

The next group of fifty students leave for the cruise on Monday, April 8^th, and return on Wednesday, and will be replaced with a third group on board that will return from the sea on Friday, April 12^th.

"A total of 141 of our students will be able to feel what it's like to sail and sleep on the waves, what life is like on board, both when the sun rises and when it rains, when the sea is clear and how important it is for an individual to contribute to group goals, and to check their knowledge and skills," said Professor Botica, adding that students will be able to apply their theoretical knowledge in terrestrial, electronic and astronomical navigation, maritime and marine engineering as well as under the supervision of the professors and members of the crew of "Jadran", to take part in the navigation watch on the deck and in the engine room of the ship.

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on April 4th 2019, read more at Vijesti

Actors Marija Vickovic, Nada Vukcevic and Petar Buric, musicians from the group "Who see" Dejan Dedovic Deduh, Igor Lazic, Antonije Pusic, and Dragoljub Djuricic invited citizens to join them on April 6th at noon at the Black Lake where the protest "You cannot go any further" will be organized. The protest is organized because they are cutting the trees at the Black Lake for the company "Explorer" to build 30 four-bed eco-lodge bungalows near the Black Lake. Open-air bar, children's playroom, Adventure Park are also planned to be built near the Black Lake. Luka Bulatovic, a member of the DPS's of Kolasin is officially standing behind the company "Explorer".

Vickovic, Boric, and Dedovic invited citizens to protest to preserve the Black Lake and the River Tara.

Text by Vijesti online, on April 4th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

April 5, 2019 - The 13th Tivat Regatta UNA Montenegro Cup, organised by JK Delfin and Tivat Company UNA Montenegro, is scheduled for 19-21 April 2019. The cruise regatta on Sunday, 21 April, will be preceded by a two-day regatta for the Optimist and Laser classes. Under the slogan "Be Optimist!" the organisers have joined the three-day feast at sea on the most beautiful navigational route in Boka and the idea to encourage young people to play sports and share the value of sailing. Linking sports and nature, life on the sea and cultural heritage, they are launching a donor action for buying sailboats of the Optimist type, intended for training the youngest in YC Delfin. 

04 April 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković and representatives of the renowned Dutch shipbuilding company Damen Kommer Damen and Porto Montenegro Mohammed Al-Shaibaniagreed said at a meeting in Bijela that the project of the transition of the former shipyard into the service of luxury yachts is successfully developing in accordance with plans, that it represents a new aspect of Montenegro's development, and that it is expected that the new industry will employ up to 450 workers when it is in full operation. 

Representatives of Damen, which employs 10,000 people in 35 shipyards on five continents, build 160 vessels every year and generates an annual turnover of two billion euros, presented a plan for the transition of the former shipyard. The plan is to rebuild 14 yachts in the first season 2020/2021, while in the fifth and sixth year they expect to reach full capacity - 100 yachts a year with an average employment of more than 400 people. 

"That means we need a lot of employees. We want to find out as quickly as possible whether people from Montenegro are looking forward to work. We want to provide training for interested people in our shipyards in Northern Europe and to organise a training programme in Bijela," representatives of the Damen Group told Prime Minister Marković.

Prime Minister Duško Marković stressed that, after visiting the site, he is thrilled with what he saw, having in mind that it is one of the projects that changes the Montenegrin economy. 

"I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, and today I feel fine. There were challenges, but we overcame them together. This project is important for the whole of Montenegro because it changes the whole philosophy of our development. With this project, we first solve the issue of the environment and open up a new clean industry. At the same time, we connect our tourism industry and industry. That is why this is a new era in the economic development of Montenegro. This needs to be understood by every state administration official. Any limitations will be overcome. Here I see a perspective for young people and that is why I am pleased that Damen is here. We need your experience and your know-how more than money. You will enjoy the full support of the Government," Prime Minister Duško Marković underlined at the meeting. 

In the context of the importance of development based on clean technologies, the Prime Minister recalled that the Government allocated EUR 50 million for remediation of five locations: the former shipyard in Bijela, solid waste dumps and red sludge pools in the former Aluminum Plant, the abandoned mine shafts of Šuplja stijena and the coal ash and slug from Maljevac dump. 

After the meeting, leaders of the Damen Group and Porto Montenegro, who on 30 November 2018, signed with the Government the concession agreement for the Shipyard in Bijela, with the aim of transforming the former shipyard into a service of luxury yachts, shared the optimism. 

Chairman of the Damen Shipyards Group Kommer Damen expressed his special gratitude to the Prime Minister for engaging in this project. 

"I am very grateful that with the assistance of the Government of Montenegro, and especially the Prime Minister, we have made progress in cleaning the Shipyard and that we are likely to start operations in March 2020," Kommer Damen said following the meeting.

Executive Director and Member of the Board of Directors of Porto Montenegro David Margason said that he is thrilled by the fact that, after a long preparation, the remediation and the beginning of the shipyard transition are finally underway. 

"I am very pleased that our investment in tourism in the last ten years has finally brought new investments into this business," said David Margason. 

The Prime Minister also spoke with Executive Director of the Investment Corporation of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Porto Montenegro Mohammed Al-Shaibani. 

The meeting discussed the plans for further development of Porto Montenegro as one of the most important tourist resources of our country, as well as plans for expanding the tourist offer. 

04 April 2019 - Prime Ministers of Montenegro and Romania, Duško Marković and Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă, agreed in Bucharest that the two countries have established friendly relations and partnership in NATO, that both aim to deepen economic cooperation, and that the successful completion of European accession of Montenegro and the continuation of European integration of other Western Balkan countries is the best framework for the stability of this part of Europe.

"We talked about the development of bilateral relations, successful cooperation within NATO, as well as the potential for strengthening our relations. Montenegro, as a NATO member, a country in far-reaching negotiations with the European Union and among the highest rates of economic growth in Europe, wants partners from the EU and NATO with whom it can develop successful economic cooperation," Prime Minister Duško Marković told a press conference following the official talks.

Prime Minister Dăncilă stressed that Montenegro is a country that can set an example to others in the region, adding that Romania gives priority to the Western Balkans. She underlined that Bucharest's official policy is to evaluate each state on individual merits.

The Prime Minister of Montenegro thanked his host for the support, noting that the country fully understands and supports Romania's efforts to fulfill the priorities of the presidency of the Council of the European Union in a very complex environment.

"Our ambitions are clear, our goal is to open the last negotiating chapter, Chapter 8 - Competition, and create the conditions for closing the chapter. We are encouraged by the support of Romania and the open and constructive talks we have had. We are focused on our obligations and we are not burdened with the developments within the Union, we do not base our plans and goals on this, and we make it clear to our partners. For us, Romania is not only a friend but also a partner who can, with its experience, help Montenegro achieve a strategic commitment of EU membership. We also appreciate Romania's understanding of the region of the Western Balkans and the significance of its European perspective," said Prime Minister Duško Marković.

Prime Minister Dăncilă underscored that Romania fully supports the ambitions of Montenegro in the EU integration process, including the plan to open the only remaining negotiating chapter.

The prime ministers announced concrete steps in terms of economic cooperation, including a meeting of the mixed commission of the two countries and the organisation of an economic forum that would bring together business communities of Montenegro and Romania. Agriculture, energy and tourism are recognised as concrete areas of cooperation. Direct cooperation within NATO was agreed in several areas.

The meeting of Prime Minister Duško Marković and President of Romania Klaus Werner Iohannis focused on European integration of Montenegro.

By the same token, the Romanian President said that in almost five years of his mandate, he has been taking the position that the European Union is not complete without the Western Balkans, and that NATO is not complete without the Western Balkan countries. It is a good thing that Montenegro is in NATO, President Iohannis pointed out, hopeful that the the successful continuation of Montenegro' European integration will continue, which, in his words, requires patience.

The Prime Minister exchanged views with the top Romanian officials about the issues of the Western Balkans and beyond.

Prime Minister Duško Marković will end his official visit to Romania late this afternoon with a meeting with Parliament Speaker Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu.

04 April 2019 - Representatives of the Government of Montenegro met earlier today with the delegation of the Municipality of Ulcinj, led by President of the Municipality Ljoro Nrekić. The meeting noted that the Government of Montenegro is strongly focused on the development of Ulcinj, and the improvement of the overall infrastructure creates conditions for the valorization of precious natural resources. 

Congratulating the citizens and local leadership on the forthcoming Ulcinj Municipality Day, representatives the Government of Montenegro emphasised the importance of responsible attitude towards public finance and praised the results the local government achieved in terms of stabilizing public finances. 

They also stressed that it is vital that infrastructure projects are implemented in a satisfactory and high-quality manner. He recalled the fund that will be formed through the economic citizenship programme, in which money will be allocated for the improvement of local infrastructure in less developed municipalities.

The meeting paid particular attention to investments in tourism. Both sides identified the need to increase the high-class hotel capacities. Furthermore, they discussed challenges the local administration faces and the ways to overcome them. 

President of the Municipality Nrekić said that in the next two years they expect an increase in investments and a more dynamic development of the municipality. 

Representatives the Government of Montenegro said that they would support the municipality of Ulcinj in all issues necessary for citizens, as well as in creating conditions for improving quality of life.