March 17, 2019 - The organisers of the protest "Odupri Se- 97,000" have said at the fifth meeting, held Saturday, 16 March in Podgorica, that they will not give up on the demonstration until all state institutions are released. They announced a new gathering at the Independence Square for March 23, inviting people to bring at least one person to the next protest that wasn't present this time. One of the members of the organising committee, Dzemal Perovic, called for the liberation of Montenegro and the unification "against those who privatised our country".

Reflecting on the negative campaign on the decision of the organising committee to give up the previously announced permanent protests to meet the prominent demands of the leaders of the institutions of the system, Perovic said: "The jabs for the mistakes of the organising committee, what is the purpose - we are people, we are making mistakes. But tonight we are unmistakably aware of what we want. What you sow, you're sorry tonight. We came for our freedom!"

"Our face is our flag," Perovic said, responding to the recent objection of the President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, that at the meetings in Podgorica there are no Montenegrin flags. Perovic asked Djukanovic where he carried the state flag, while "stealing state resources and staying in Dubai and San Tropez".

"While you make foreign currency cash and sign up for offshore firms - where is your state flag? While you are transferring the circus from a state strike to the apostles - where are your constitutions, laws, and justice? You will never pass on the intimidation and resentment of citizens to each other, using the natural differences between us - national, religious or party. We have come here for true justice," Perovic said.

To regime media and reporters, Perovic said they are looking for the protestors' mistakes in vain.

"Looking for mistakes and weaknesses of the Organizing Committee, we and hundreds of thousands of others who will join us are unmistakably aware of what we want and how we will achieve it," he said.
The fifth set "Odupri Se - 97,000" overcame the previous gathering, which speculated with numbers of about 20,000 people. According to the organiser's assessment, yesterday's protest in the Capital City was the most massive gathering of citizens in the recent Montenegrin history.

Before the protest walks, the organisers reminded of over 60 companies that had once conducted the Montenegrin economy, and who did not survive the "goblins" transition. "Health, education, culture, dignified life, solidarity and freedom have been eased," said actor Slavisa Grubisa.

Professor Goran Ivo Marinovic said that Montenegro would already be a part of European Union if not having DPS.

"DPS is the cause of all of our problems and the main topic of all the chapters in the negotiations," Marinovic said and called on the ruling politicians to leave the armchairs.

He also said that there would not be "a sick system based on fear and stifling freedom of thought" in Montenegro, when the state created the conditions for free and fair elections and when a democratic change was first made.

Marinovic does not live in Montenegro, and his career as a professor at the faculty, he says, "runs around the world, from South Korea to Mexico." "But I'm always happy to return home," he said in front of thousands of citizens, adding that there are no such people anywhere in the world, nor such natural beauty as in Montenegro.

"The existing regime made a living to survive, and nature, our greatest asset, to a means of personal gain," Marinovic said.

He also said that the government fears the outcome of the protest "Odupri Se - 97,000," because they are "no longer able to manipulate citizens".

The fifth gathering of the civil movement "Odupri Se", Photo by Boris Pejovic, Vijesti

Addressing thousands of citizens, Professor of History Petar Glendza said that Podgorica has never been more beautiful than last night. "There is not one place in this world I would rather be, but right here and with you." He said that he wanted changes and that he would resist a system that "humiliates, degrades, restricts and all this plunder".

"I do not want to deal with onion planting, but with my profession! And from the job, I do professionally and conscientiously to have a dignified life! I no longer want my fair earned money to be scattered for a variety of malversations, electricity and fuel bills with unreasonable taxes, to “envelopes”, and all the wrong and misguided moves of those who make the most important decisions in the country without any responsibility. I want the opposite - you and me investing our money in our future "Glendza said. He added that he wanted a system that would guarantee citizens "security, creativity and comfort, not fear, inefficiency and bravery".

"I want a state that is service to its citizens. And we are those citizens. We are a state, and what we live today is just a simulation, and that's why we are looking for root changes, "said the professor of history from Cetinje. Glendza also sent a message to the opposition, stating that they have to change themselves, the way of action and the choice of priorities.

Student Teodora Pavićević said that no one could take this "little bit of freedom" to citizens.

"They took us all they could, the state, the future, but this little bit of freedom cannot take us, never. They will not frighten us; they will not divide us, they will not silence us because we are together tonight, all of us here for freedom, for social justice, not for their injustice, "she said. ”Is it fair to attack youth and protect a mafia? That excellent students, graduate economists, lawyers, masters work as waiters and taxi drivers? Do the workers work 12 hours a day unpaid, to make wealth for those stealing us? Is it fair that young people leave the country because they do not have a party booklet? "Pavićević asked.

Thousands of citizens went for a protest walk through the Freedom Street, Boulevard of Ivan Crnojevic, Stanko Dragojević Street, Boulevard of St. Petar Cetinjski and completed a gathering at the central city square.

The Doll "Luko Krivic" in front of Satet Prosecutors' Office, Photo by BIRN

The demonstrators passed the building of the Government, the Presidency, and the Assembly. In front of the premises of the Prosecutor's Office set up a doll with an onion instead of the head, alluding to the statement of the Special State Prosecutor (SDT) Milivoje Katnic that "the protest organisers undermine the people and better make themselves to plant onions". "Luko Kaznić" (Guilty Onion) doll, dressed in the suit of the Prosecutor, was the second performance inspired by this statement. The doll name is the allusion to the fact that the current Chief State Prosecutor, Milivoje Katnić, was engaged in the military operations of the Montenegrin Army in Konavle, Croatia, the region known for agricultural production. The Student Initiative earlier stifled the symbolic onion planting in front of the State Prosecutor's Office building.

As in previous gatherings, this time there were no national and party flags, and protestors carried transparencies "One Works, Four Votes," "Shame on You," "Street of Freedom is One Directional" chanting "Milo Thief", "We are a state, " We're a flag, " Students are here, "and occasionally the Independence Square and marching streets illuminated the torches.

Although the organisers, before the protest, called on citizens not to argue for possible provocation and concern for security, there was an incident during the protest walk that ended without any consequences for the health of people and property.

From the Police Administration, they reported that more protestors, during the protest walks, insulted police officers and shot them with stones and other hard objects. The Police states that some demonstrators shot in the direction of state institutions to hurt police officers and test them for reaction. They explain that no police officer has been injured.

Strong police forces were deployed at the Government, Presidency, Parliament and Prosecutor's Office buildings, while police were behind the Presidential building with protest demolition equipment.

"The Security Service in the Organization of the Movement" 97,000 – Odupri Se "prevented one person throwing stones to the Assembly building," the organisers said on this occasion. As they cite, a video of that event was made, which will deliver to the police.

"We welcome the efforts that the police officers are investing in finding and adequately punishing every violent behaviour and extermination, to ensure the security of all participants and every subsequent public gathering," the 97,000 – Odupri Se movement said.

The new gathering at the Independence Square in Podgorica is scheduled for next Saturday, 23 March at 6 pm. The fifth meeting ended with a call to each of those present to bring with them at least one person who did not attend the protests so far, to further enlarge the movement.

Copyright: Vijesti Online

17 March 2019 - The Mayor of Budva, Marko Bato Carević, said that he supports the owners of open bars located at the main city promenade in Budva in their struggle to be allowed to work this year. He also stressed that the local government does not have the jurisdiction to decide which temporary buildings can be allowed to work, and that the jurisdiction was given to the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro.

The owners of six popular discotheques, which were removed from the Plan of temporary objects in Budva by the Company for Coastal Zone Management and the Ministry of Sustainable Development of Montenegro, announced a protest on March 19.

Legal representative of owners of cafes and restaurants in Budva, lawyer Zoran Piperović, said that the discussions with representatives of the PCCZM and the representatives of the Ministry have been held for a month. During these negotiations, the representatives of these institutions have been constantly implying that the person in charge for this decision was the Mayor of Budva, reports News Agency Vijesti. "I was told that as a condition for concluding contracts for this year, we need to deliver the Permission from the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management, three certificates from the hotel owners whose hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of the facilities and the approval of the Mayor of Budva."

Piperović said that hotel owners already gave their confirmation that these facilities do not interfere with their own businesses. "The state claims that they will give the permits, if the Mayor of Budva does the same. I am well aware of the theory of law and state, and I have to admit that I have not yet encountered this kind of case, which is reflected in the fact that the state says – “we want to give the necessary permits, but the Mayor won’t let us," Piperović explained.

Commenting on this situation, Mayor Carević said that someone wants to get him dragged into the whole problematic situation. "The local government has no jurisdiction and there is no need to announce any opinion whatsoever on this matter.  It is up to the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management to decide and comment on the matter," Carević said.

He stressed that protests are legitimate in this matter and that he supports the requests of the restaurant and bar owners.

"Everyone has the right to fight for their rights. Running a business is a tireless process, and no one can stand in the way of business, no matter how hard he tries. The business should only be flexible and adaptable to all standards, but it cannot be stopped. Budva is a city of entertainment and nightlife, and Budva without these facilities will never be the same. How much will it affect the turnout, it remains to be seen, "Carević said.

Carević did not miss the opportunity out to show his disagreement with the decision of the previous municipal leadership - that the municipality deleted 250 temporary buildings located along the promenade, stating that it was not in accordance with the stand of the Democratic Front.

"If only they listened what I said earlier, this situation would not have occurred. Still, the one who has made the decisions at the time will have to solve the present situation which is the result of those decisions, ”the Mayor added.

According to him, the decision makers at the time should have taken into account the economic aspect, as more than a thousand people will now lose their jobs.

"I told them what we should do at the time, and if they listened, we could’ve reached an agreement which would’ve benefitted all sides. They did not allow that possibility; because we were conditioned by the principle "this or that" and the representatives of the Democratic Front had to accept one of the options. A parliamentary decision was then passed and it is currently being implemented, and there is no more room for discussion. We could’ve done everything differently, without the tensions and conflicts we now have to deal with. But the decision has been made and we will implement it as we must, "Carević said.

Source: Investitor

15 March 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister for Regional Development Rafet Husović said that Montenegro is focusing its efforts and successes primarily in terms of economy, job creation, infrastructure development and tourism on the whole country, with the particular aim at Northern Montenegro.

"Thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Marković and the leaders of this Government, the Kolašin 1600 Ski Resort was completed, and conditions are created for credible investors to start building prestigious hotels on the Bjelasica Mountain. But it is not only Bjelasica. And Hajla has opened its tourism potential - a tender for the purchase of a modern cable car worth 9 million EUR today is a reality. People are already working in our ski resorts, and they expect new jobs in the production and economy to be created in the coming period," said Husović when asked about important steps in the development of tourism in Northern Montenegro.

He continued that this is an excellent opportunity to look at the critics and asked whether anyone can claim that the previous two years have not been a record-breaking in tourism given the fact that a billion of euros of revenue was exceeded and 59 hotels have been opened.

"I would like to remind you that 14 4-star and 5-star hotels were opened last year alone, and in comparison, in 2006, we had only two 5-star hotels opened," pointed out Deputy Prime Minister Husović.

During this occasion, the reporters of the National Television of Montenegro asked him about the employment in Montenegro and the creation of the new jobs, which is supported by the Government of Montenegro.

"If almost 12,000 new jobs are not a result that confirms that the potential for employment has accompanied a stable, and we can say, a record-breaking rate of economic growth in the previous two years, if this does not confirm that the coordinated approach enhances the work of inspection bodies in a way that contributes to the reduction of the grey economy - then what the success is anyway? The Government, through the Investment and Development Fund, supported business people with more than EUR 200 million last year, and this and other measures saved over 200 small companies from bankruptcy. Thousands of our citizens work there, and we think about them and their families every day. Agribusinesses have broken records that will reach 100 million euros invested in our agriculture, farms and individual farms," concluded Husović.

15 March 2019 - Regulation on the allocation of funds for encouraging direct investments and improving the competitiveness of the economy has recently been approved by the Government of Montenegro, as well as the Programme for the improvement of the competitiveness of the economy for 2019. Considering that the existing Regulation concerned exclusively direct investment support programmes, and in practice, the need for constant stimulation and strengthening of the sector of small, medium and large enterprises was identified, which is recognised in several strategic documents as one of the key pillars of accelerated economic development, for which it is necessary to improve their competitive ability, and thus the competitiveness of the economy as a whole, the new Regulation was developed.

The Programme for improving the competitiveness of the economy, for which realisation 1.640.000 EUR has been allocated, prescribes that all previous programmes intended for the development of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises are consolidated into a unified programme, which will consist of 10 programme lines.

The Government approved the Information on determining the weighted average retail price of cigarettes for 2019. To ensure the stability of the cigarette market, as well as to preserve budget revenues on this basis, it is proposed to maintain the average weighted retail price of cigarettes from 2018 and 2019 (2,10 EUR per pack). In that context, it was concluded that it is necessary to begin to amend the legal provisions regulating this issue to create conditions for the proposal to be implemented.

The Cabinet within the Government of Montenegro approved the Information on increasing the share capital of Montenegro in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development through general and selective capital increase and approved the proposal for capital increase, as well as the Indicative plan for subscription and payment of shares.

16 March 2019 - Credit Rating Agency Standard & Poor's recently published a new Report for Montenegro which confirmed the rating of the country, which is marked as "stable" while preserving the rating B + / B.

The fact that the credit rating agency Standard & Poor's has confirmed the rating given to Montenegro in 2018 for the third time, points to the expectation that after the fourth confirmation, the country’s credit rating could increase.

By confirming Montenegro's stable credit rating, another relevant global institution recognized the seriousness of implementing fiscal consolidation measures, as well as the overall increase in economic activity resulting from the improvement of general business conditions within the country. According to the Report, the current position of Montenegro on the rating list is the result of a strong economic growth that continued in 2018, estimated at 4,7%, based on the development of tourism, energy and infrastructure, and more specifically, the progress on the construction of the highway that will, as it is said, contribute to regional cohesion and security improvement.

An important backbone of Montenegro’s future development, the Report suggested, is the implementation of a significant number of foreign direct investments over the past five years, which amount to over 10% of GDP at the average level.

Analysts point to the strong institutional position of Montenegro in the region as well as the potential for further development through the structural reforms that the country is currently implementing to join the European Union. According to the report, the important activities for achieving the Government's goals are the continuation of the implementation of fiscal consolidation measures, the reduction of the budget deficit and the reduction of public debt.

15 March 2019 - Montenegrin Ministry of Internal Affairs is working on the establishment of an electronic database of sports fan groups from the country and the region. This database will serve for general sports fan groups monitoring, information exchange with public services and special monitoring of perpetrators of criminal offenses at sports events.

This project is being implemented following the Law on the Prevention of Violence and Misbehavior at Sports Events.

Establishment of this database will allow the Ministry of Internal Affairs to keep records on all perpetrators of criminal offenses at sports events, which will increase the general safety of the public.

Dossier files on sports fan groups are almost complete and already accessible to the General Police Department (Department for Public Order and Peace), as well as to all police stations, security centers and security departments.

"This project will further improve the prevention of violence and misbehavior at sports events," the representatives of Montenegrin Ministry of Interior explained within their report on the implementation of the Law on Public Gatherings and Public Events in the past year.

The report also states that the Law on Public Gatherings respects basic human rights and that the representatives of the Montenegrin police fully respected its provisions. "It is the duty of the state not to interfere with the fundamental freedoms of the people and to protect and facilitate all individuals’ right to peaceful assembly," the report said.

The report also noted that during the implementation of the Law on Public Gatherings, special attention was given to the principle of proportionality. This principle implies that all interferences with rights must be proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued, as prescribed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

"The implementation of the Law on Public Gatherings and Public Events promoted freedom of assembly. Gatherings were limited only to the extent necessary to protect public security, protecting the rights, freedoms and health of other persons," the Ministry of Internal Affairs explained.

The Ministry was also successful at implementing the standards of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

"Based on the data on held public gatherings and public events in 2018, and considering that they have passed without violating law and order, it can be concluded that the police officers acted by the law while providing security," says the MIA's report.

March 16, 2019 - The Directorate for Inspection Affairs has ordered OHM Mamula Montenegro to suspend works on the island of Lastavica, within the Mamula Fort complex, in order to obtain approval for the conservation project, said the Management Board for the Protection of Cultural Property.

March 16, 2019 - The Fifth Protest of the Citizens' Movement "Odupri Se - 97,000" will be held today, 16 March from 6 pm at the Independence Square in Podgorica. Organisers invite citizens to join them in high number, because, as they say, it is the only way to meet the demands of citizens for the release of captured institutions and root the change of the system that for decades does not serve them, but the survival of the octopus in power.