4 April 2019 - International Conference: Adriatic Biodiversity Protection – AdriBioPro2019 will be organized from April 7-11, 2019 in Kotor, by the Institute of Marine Biology, University of Montenegro.

The 2019 International Conference: Adriatic Biodiversity Protection will provide updated scientific, decision-making and policy-relevant information across a broad array of different Adriatic issues, marine biology, and related scientific disciplines. Emphasis will be on how state-of-the-art research on Adriatic biodiversity protection, conservation of coastal and marine areas and sustainable use of marine resources can contribute to policy- and decision-making. Particular focus will be put on the development opportunities which marine biotechnology can offer in the Adriatic. Organized to include plenary and breakout sessions covering both disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, Conference results will be used in shaping future marine science priorities and policy in Montenegro and other Adriatic countries.

The Institute of Marine Biology of the University of Montenegro is granted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement a project “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center “Boka Aquarium” (MonteAqua)” in cooperation with the Center for Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation of Inland Waters, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac. The International conference “Adriatic Biodiversity Protection – AdriBioPro2019” is the final project event, dedicated to gather all relevant national and regional stakeholders and to secure closer regional cooperation in the Adriatic Sea region.

According to the UNEP, the Mediterranean Sea is subject to tremendous pressure from multiple human uses and climate change. Recent research results indicate the cumulative impacts of human activities in the Mediterranean, ranking it as a hotspot of marine biodiversity, and one of the most heavily impacted marine region worldwide. One of the most intensely used and severely degraded regions of the Mediterranean is the Adriatic Sea. It implies a necessity of developing appropriate and effective policy-responses including adaptation actions, enhancement of resilience and implementation of mitigation activities. The Conference will address alterations of Mediterranean ecosystems, with a particular focus on the Adriatic Sea and its biodiversity and analyse widespread conflict among marine users. By presenting the latest science, the Conference will facilitate, synthesize and summarize the science-policy dialogue.

The topics which will be addressed during the conference include marine biodiversity conservation, conservation of coastal and marine areas, preventing marine pollution, rare and endangered species in Adriatic sea, marine invasive and alien species, roles of aquaria, international trade in endangered marine species, sustainable use of marine resources, marine biotechnology and freshwater biodiversity conservation.

04 April 2019 - At the session held on April 4, the Montenegrin Government passed the Decision on the issuance of state bonds that are due in 2024 and the Decision on issuing state bonds that are due in 2026, intending to secure funding of the 2019 budget.

"The first Decision is about 140 million EUR, 5 years of repayment and interest rate of 3%, while the second Decision is about 50 million EUR, 7-year repayment period and an interest rate of 3.5%," said Dragan Darmanović of the Ministry of Finance.

"Unlike in previous years, when the nominal value of the bond amounted to 10,000.00 EUR, the nominal value of this bond will be 1,000 euros, and we think that it will be more acceptable for citizens and that they will participate in larger numbers in the issuance of bonds," the Minister explained.

According to Darmanović, in this way the State will try to activate the domestic market and develop the local capital market and trade in bonds to improve this form of trade, providing funds for the 2019 budget. Minister also stressed that he expects that the Government will be able to create even better conditions for the country’s structural reforms and the competitiveness of Montenegrin economy.

03 April 2019 - Panathinaikos OPAP Athens qualified to the EuroLeague playoffs, after defeating Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, 87 – 67 at home for the final round of the regular season in Nick Calathes’ historic night. They will play against Real Madrid in the 3-6 matchup, in what will be a rematch of last year’s showcase.

Calathes was unstoppable all night long against the Montenegrin side. He scored 11 points, handed out a career-high 17 assists and grabbed 11 rebounds to notch an extremely rare feat in the EuroLeague competition.

“We always believed as a team. We’re a veteran team, and the coaches and players believed we could be in this position because we knew we could get better,” said Calathes after the final buzzer. “I don’t know how many people believed on the outside, but in that locker room, everyone believed. [On the playoffs against Real Madrid] We owe them one for sure, we’re going to be a tough team. It’s going to be a grind for both teams, and we’re confident we can go there and beat them in their home court.”

After a relatively slow start, Rick Pitino’s side went up by double-digits in the second quarter (49-36), thanks to Nick Calathes’ incredible playmaking ability. The 30-year old star had an insane 11 assists in the first half, surpassing Theodoros Papaloukas for the 7th spot in the all-time assists list.

James Gist and DeShaun Thomas were scoring on the block and Panathinaikos seemed to have control of the game in the second half. As the crowd was expecting Calathes to grab his 10th rebound in the final period, Buducnost cut the deficit to nine points (72-63) and challenged the hosts. Calathes connected with Gist in the following minutes and ended Buducnost's hopes.

Besides Calathes’ huge game, James Gist also had his best game of the year, with a season-high 23 points and six rebounds. Thomas added 17. For the visiting side, rising star Goga Bitadze scored 16 points and eight rebounds.

Source: Eurohoops News

With the symbolic performance of the reconstruction of the main road in Zupa Niksicka, the villagers of this area once again sent a message to the authorities that it is time to turn back to the local community which, as they said, gave so much to the state.

"When the competent institutions will not allow the locals to start with the reconstruction. As you can see in this billboard, observers in these affairs are the Government, Uniprom Metal Company and the Municipality of Niksic. This gathering is irony, sarcasm because of the relationship with the MZ Zupa, keeping in mind all these decades back and that over 40 million tons of ore was exported from Zupa. If the state and state institutions do not see the need to invest in this area, then we obviously do not have the same wavelengths and obviously, we do not think well to the rural areas," said the chairman of MZ, Dragoljub Radulovic.

A group of locals gathered in Liverovici with shovels beside the road and symbolically planted plums, which was watered with brandy instead of water. "What is the state of the road? We will have to forget cars and buy horses very soon, so when we come by horses and pick the plums to refresh our mouths," Radulovic said ironically.

He reminded that at the recently held protests they set out the requirements for whose fulfillment they are seeking a government’s guarantee. Citizens of Zupa are demanding that all concession funds should be allocated for the needs of their MZ, to immediately issue a tender for the reconstruction of the first section of the road in the length of six kilometers, to start the project of the remaining main road section to the village Morakovo, including a pedestrian path from Ivanovic's house to the Stone Cross, to solve the problem of proper water supply for all households, to make a modest sports hall, to provide a grassy football field, to finish the sport field in the village Zagrad, to continue the installation of lighting in the villages Bjelosevina and Morakovo and to make a promise for the same in Staro Selo.

"As far as our requests are concerned, no one has responded except the Ministry of Sport with whom we have had a fair conversation and talks in order to resolve two out of nine requests. The vice president of the municipality was clear that the municipality has no funds left except for these two kilometers. Bearing in mind the situation in the Municipality of Niksic, it is understandable. That is why we are addressing the Government," said the President of MZ.

The Ministry of Sports promised to build a football field in the yard of the school "Dusan Bojovic" in Miolje Polje, and regarding the sports hall, they said that the Ministry of Education should be included in the mentioned problem and that they will assist in these activities as well as the local community.

The new gathering of the locals is scheduled for Sunday, April 7^th, when they will block the cargo traffic at the main county road.

"As we see the state institutions do not listen to our problems and it is obvious that we locals need to start with the radicalized measures, the first measure is 7^th April when we will all come and block the cargo traffic that goes through Zupa because it looks like it is the only way we can draw attention to the problems we are exposed to," Radulovic said.

The municipality said they would soon announce a tender for reconstruction of the road in the length of six kilometers, but this year they will only complete two kilometers because they do not have any more money.

For more information please follow TMNs dedicated page

Text by Svetlana Mandic, on April 3rd, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The Board of Directors of Montenegro Airlines, headed by President Nikola Vukicevic, discussed and accepted the Business Management Report for 2018 and the Financial Statements of the Company for 2018, presented by the Company's Executive Director, Zivko Banjević at the 6th regular session.

The company's business result for 2018 is positive, as the company's operating income was EUR 245,000 higher than operating expenses. However, due to significant financial expenditures the Company operated with a loss of EUR 1.97 million.

This total score is nearly 2.5 times better than 2017, or nearly 6 times better than 2016.

"It is the best balance of success in the last ten years, from the transformation of the Company from doo to ad, and comes in the year in which the Company achieved a record number of transported passengers. Let’s recall that last year MA transported 645,000 passengers in all three categories of traffic, which is an absolute record in the 25-year history of the Company, said MA.

At the beginning of 2017, the company was in an almost untreatable situation, with a loss of 11.47 million euros in 2016. Following the measures taken by the new management and management structure, with the support of the Government of Montenegro, the business was stabilized, and in relatively short terms it resulted in almost six times lower losses at the end of 2018. This amount is virtually marginal compared to the nearly 80 million euro of revenue earned last year, as well as concerning the importance of the Company for Tourism and the entire Montenegrin economy, as stated at the session.

The session also concluded that the results achieved over the past two years were best reflected in the fact that the Company transported more than 1.2 million passengers during that period, earning about 150 million euros, of which nearly 30 million euros remained in the country, as well as an indirect contribution to Montenegrin tourism and the total economy amounted between 250 and 300 million euros. These data point out the main reasons for the preservation of national airline companies.

The result gained is taken into particular account in view of the enormous increase in the price of fuel for 27% over the previous year compared to 2017, according to MA.

"It is evident that in 2018 the Company would operate with a positive result, in addition to the significant financial expenses that primarily relate to the exchange rate differences that could not be affected, if the terms were at least a little better on the airline market. Due to these unforeseen circumstances, we had to allocate a total of 3.2 million euros more than it was planned for the last year. In any case, there is a positive trend in MA's business over the past two years. If prices on the fuel market remain at the level of the first quarter of 2019, we can hope for a positive result at the end of this year, which will be better than the previous one on all commercial and financial indicators," said MA Executive Director Zivko Banjevic.

For more information please follow TMNs dedicated page 

Text by Vijesti online, on april 2nd 2019, read more at Vijesti

April 4, 2019 - The Jubilee 50th edition of the prestigious sailing regatta for the Olympic Classes “Trophy of Princess Sofia Iberostar,” one of a total of five of the EUROSAF Champions Cup series, is held from 29 March to 7 April in Palma de Mallorca. In nine of the ten Olympic Sailing Classes, 1,224 sailors are competing on 850 sailing boats that represent more than 68 countries. The most significant number of competitors is in the Laser Standard Class, in which the colors of Montenegro will be defended by sailors Milivoje Dukić and Ilija Marković under the firm hand of selector Ilko Klakor. 

April 4, 2019 - KotorArt Talents at this year's KotorArt festival Don Branko's Music Days will have the opportunity to perform at four concerts. These are the concerts planned in the Church of St. Spirit, Concert Hall of Music School "Vida Matjan," starting at 21.30h.

03 April 2019 -Montenegro is due to sign the regional roaming agreement with the countries of the Western Balkans in Belgrade, on April 4, which stipulates that the roaming charges in the region will be considerably reduced. By July 1, 2021, the price of a call in the area should cost as much as the price of a local call.

Montenegrin Minister of Economy, Dragica Sekulić, which will sign this agreement on behalf of the country, explains that the agreement, concluded under the auspices of the Western Balkans Digital Agenda, makes it mandatory for the signees not to exceed the upper limit of retail and wholesale prices of roaming services.

As explained within the agreement on roaming charges, mobile telephony operators in the region should reduce the prices of roaming to enable consumers to use electronic communications services outside the reach of their network, without paying steep fees.

The Ministry of Economy announced that the agreement would be signed by the representatives of the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Republic of Kosovo, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia.

The Second Digital Summit will be opened by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel, and Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union, Houlin Zhao.

During the Digital Summit, Government of Montenegro and the Government of the Republic of Serbia will also sign an Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Electronic Identification and Authentication provided in Montenegro and Mutual Recognition of Qualified Trust Services provided in the Republic of Serbia.

This year’s summit will gather about 3,000 participants from 30 countries from Western Balkans, Europe, and the world.

03 April 2019 - The Government of Serbia has recently adopted the Decision on Introducing Scheduled Air Services declared to be of public interest, including the service Niš - Tivat – Niš, at the initiative of the southern and eastern Serbian district. The primary goal of this Decision is more efficient traffic connection with European cities, which is expected to result in faster economic development of the region.

The best bidder to carry out scheduled air services will be required to base an aircraft in Niš with the capacity to seat at least 125 passengers. The jet cannot be older than twenty years, and the operating carrier must also have another aircraft stationed in Serbia for back-up purposes. Under the tender conditions, a group of carriers may submit a joint bid. The deadline for the submission of bids has been set for May 6 at midday, so the carrier which will service the Niš – Tivat – Niš route will be announced after the bidding process.

As announced by the Ministry of Traffic, Construction, and Infrastructure of Serbia, the decision to introduce scheduled air services of public interest is in line with the Serbian regulations, harmonized with the regulations of the European Union.

As stated, the need for launching air services of public interest arises from the fact that there is no developed high-speed rail or road infrastructure as an alternative to linking this region to EU and the neighbouring countries with an average travel period of fewer than three hours.

The town of Niš is the administrative and regional centre of Southeast Serbia and the traffic hub which, in addition to being the intersection of the road and railroad Corridor 10, also has an international airport that accepted more than 350,000 passengers last year.

Air Service Niš – Tivat – Niš will be operated three times per week between May and October 2019.

03 April 2019 - The conclusion of the Panel discussion “Employ Local” is that recruiting domestic labour is beneficial to everyone - workers, employers and the state. This public campaign launched just before the tourist season, was organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and the Employment Service of Montenegro. The assembly, whose aim is to hire unemployed people from Montenegro during the summer, was opened by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Kemal Purišić.

During the panel discussion, it was estimated that all individuals should be socially responsible and give their contribution to the community and the country they live in. Labour and Social Welfare Minister Kemal Purišić said that one of the key priorities in the work of the Government of Montenegro was to achieve more dynamic economic growth and development as a prerequisite for raising the standard of living of citizens.

“In the previous period, the Government has worked hard in order to create the conditions for job creation and efficient functioning of the labour market, with the increase of the workforce and overall employment, especially in the private sector. Reduction of unemployment was one of the main priorities, with the aim of achieving better economic growth and strengthening the competitiveness of domestic economy,” Purišić said.

The Minister highlighted that workforce should be made more competitive before Montenegro joins the European Union, because later on, by the liberalization of the labour market, human resources will try to go to EU countries, where income and working conditions are at a higher level.

According to the conclusions of the panel discussion, Montenegro reduces the number of unemployed persons year after year. To meet the summer tourist season, the demand for seasonal workers has already begun.

Director of Employment Service, Suljo Mustafić, said that according to estimates of the Employment Bureau, this summer will require about 20,000 seasonal workers on the coast.

“That's an opportunity for appeal to both the unemployed and employers. We appeal to the unemployed to take this chance and apply for seasonal work and we ask the employers to have faith in domestic workers, because there are really many reasons for that. Greater job engagement of the domestic labour force in the season contributes to the inflow of funds into the budget, which we all consider to be very important, "Mustafić said.

Through the Bureau, until now, nearly 10,000 people have been employed during the summer. The ambition of this institution is that this number gets to about 11,000 this year.

"I believe that we will respond to this challenge despite the scarcity of offerings of tourism and hospitality services professionals. In order to be more successful in dealing with this problem, Montenegro should introduce the category of permanent seas, following the practice of developed countries. That kind of support for seasonal workers would make it possible for them to be tied to employers throughout the year, which would be a powerful stimulus to remain in Montenegro,” the director of the Bureau said.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Dragan Pejanović, who also spoke during the panel discussion, believes that it is important to raise the level of employers' confidence in the skills and knowledge of the domestic workforce and that interest in seasonal work will also be increased.

"What makes a destination on the world travel map special - is the service. In that sense, our goal is to hire high quality workforce each year. However, our vision is to increase the number of domestic workers in this area from year to year,” said Brajović, Director General of the Directorate for Development of Tourism Competitiveness.

During the panel conference, a constructive dialogue was attended by representatives of the Montenegrin Chamber of Economy, the Union of Employers, the Tax Administration, the Inspection Directorate, the Centre for Professional Education, the Montenegrin Tourist Association, the Association of Tourism and Hospitality Board, UCG Student Union and representatives of employers from coastal municipalities in Montenegro.