August 1, 2020 - Montenegro's power games between church and state may be about to create a Balkan explosion - this was the title given to Gawain Towler's comment published on July 31 in the UK broadsheet The Telegraph. Towler visited Montenegro last month, and his general conclusion is that "the state-sponsored persecution of the Serbian church in this scrap of Adriatic paradise could soon see mass civil unrest."

Gawain Towler served as Director of Communications for the Brexit Party until December 2019, and was previously Head of Press for the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group in the European Parliament (UKIP). A former journalist, he has had papers and articles published on European and International Development by the Centre for Policy Studies and elsewhere.

The Telegraph, July 31, 2020

Author: Gawain Towler

The email arrived in my inbox, breathlessly claiming that the tiny Balkan nation of Montenegro is facing a, “state-sponsored campaign of persecution of Christians in the country and the demolition of their Church, one of the oldest in Europe”.

My interest piqued, partly because the very name is redolent of Ruritania; partly because the founder of my school in 1897, one Lex Devine, was half Montenegrin, whose habit of hiding in trees when the creditors came round populated my schoolboy imagination. Mostly, because it highlighted an article from Newsweek from June, co-authored by Steve Baker and Tim Farron, calling for Nato sanctions on the tiny ex-principality for the reasons above.

That these two, diametric opposite MPs were singing from the same song-sheet raised an eyebrow. In recent days negotiations between the Government and the Serbian Orthodox Church have broken down completely. These centre on a row between the Government of 30 years, led by former communist leader, hardman Milo Dukanovic and the church.

Today it is the only civil society focus of opposition to the Government. The epicentre of the dispute is the legal status of property owned by the church within December’s Religious Toleration legislation. The split is bluntly visible.

The leader of the church is the Metropolitan bishop of Montenegro and the Littoral, Amfilohije Radovic. A Serbian nationalist with a fine line in bloodcurdling curses who flings out excommunications with added malice and an interesting view of people to entertain, including Radovan Karadic, and the notorious warlord Arkan. His views on homosexual rights would raise hairs in Tunbridge Wells, let alone Soho.

What’s happening in this scrap of Adriatic paradise? And why are two decent men, on utterly different ends of the UK political spectrum, adding their weight to a cause backed by someone described to me by a former senior director of the Montenegrin secret service, who is no supporter of the Government, as “the most evil and dangerous man in the country”?

Hold on, Montenegro is peaceful, didn’t get involved in the awful bloodletting of the Yugoslav civil war, and most importantly is over 70% Christian, is a member of Nato and wants to join the EU. It would be madness for it to either persecute Christians or demolish churches. What’s going on?

At a loose end, Covid’s grip loosening and with friends who have been trying to get me to visit the place for years, I went. That my flight went via Milan and Warsaw gives an idea that the country, only 1100 miles away, is better reached by boat; the super yachts gleaming in its main marina, testify to this.

Montenegro has a cultural mix that puts any London suburb to shame, though it is almost entirely ethnically Slavic. History has left it with a huge variety of religions, Catholic, Serbian and Montenegrin Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish and the rest. Just over 50% are Serbian Orthodox, about 20% Montenegrin Orthodox, 20% Muslim, 5% Catholic and smaller numbers atheist – a hangover from communism, and other faith groups.

National borders cut right through cultural borders creating a multilayered patchwork, a three-dimensional powder keg. The current row centers on the Religious Toleration bill, which amongst other things requires all faith groups to register as such (or they cannot access state funding and so on, though they can still continue their religious activities), and this is the key point, that they must prove ownership of property built before 1918 or they will be sequestered by the state.

That date is significant, as it was when Montenegro was annexed by the Kingdom of Serbia. This was disputed by the national assembly despite it being convened by the Serbian authorities but was encouraged in its decision by a large detachment of Serbian troops that surrounded the building until the correct decision was reached.

Everybody I spoke to, historians, political activists, representatives of the Government, the various churches and ordinary citizens had one thing in common. Though the legislation was passed in 2019, and the election is next month, at least three quarters of every conversation about politics majors on 1918.

For added spice and comprehension, a variety of dates from 1200 through to the 1860s mostly involving brave Montenegrin warriors, taking on all comers would be included.

All this history produces a heady and volatile mix. The Government is not above criticism. The President has been accused of a series of issues - all of which he would deny - like election fixing and corruption. There has been intimidation and murder of journalists attributed to mafia and gangsters. His Government is regularly likened to a criminal enterprise and financial scandals involving his family are rife.

After 30 years, many, including some in his own governing Party of Democratic Socialists, wish for him to stand down. The opposition is weak, and the only institution that has the wealth and scope to oppose him is the Serbian Orthodox church. It is in the Government’s crosshairs, being accused of being in the pocket of Serbian, and thus Russian interests. But it too is no pin up boy for progressive values.

In Orthodoxy, the normal situation is that the church is part of the construction of the state, ‘autocephalic’, or whose hierarchy is independent of any other. But, claims Father Mihail Backovic, “We made Montenegro”.

Backovic, a man of God who served in Serbia’s pre-2006 paratroop special forces, is the Metropolitan’s right-hand man. He represents a church whose primary loyalty is to a different state, Serbia. He regards himself as having loyalty to, 'God, Serbian and Montenegro", just as I am English and British.

The Montenegrin Orthodox church was wound up in 1918, as without a state, it had no function. Now it has reformed and wants access to the churches that it claims are its own patrimony. Their non-canonical leader, Archbishop Mihailo Dedeic, wants access to these old churches, “we fear the disappearance of Montenegro itself if we do not do this,” citing the importance of independent national churches.

Today he sits in his garden, drinking shots of rakia, a couple of hundred yards from the Monastery of Cetinje, the seat of his archopponent. It was rigged to explode when the Turks took it in 1692, rather spoiling their party and killing dozens. A fact everybody repeats with relish.

The row between church and state is not about faith at all, but about power and money. The Government wants it and the church has it.

The monastery of Ostrog alone, an impossibly romantic place halfway up a cliff, raises tens of millions a year. The church is prepared,

I’m told, to put “250,000 on the streets after the election”, which, given the population is 600,000 is significant. Negotiations have broken down completely, despite the Government offering the concession that it would not be up to the Church to prove ownership, but that the onus would be on the state.

The church walked out, muttering darkly. A meeting of Serbian Orthodox bishops and senior clergy was summoned in Podgorica and has been followed up by meetings in dioceses in Serbia, Bosnia and elsewhere, beyond Montenegro’s borders.

The working assumption is that these meetings are to co-ordinate non-Montenegrin aspects of the post electoral protests. They claim to be of the country, but their actions suggest that their loyalties and capabilities are elsewhere. This allows the government to portray them as an asset of a hostile foreign power, Serbia (with the Russian bear just out of sight in the shadows). They do not see why they should be treated like other faith groups given they are the largest. They do not see why they should provide full title to their property, despite others, such as the Catholic church, being happy and willing to do so – because the transfer of property in 1918 was by fiat.

Supporters of the church believe that if property is transferred, a range of stunning monasteries will, in short order, become luxury hotels for cash rich guests, with the profits finding their way into the pockets of government officials and their friends. And all this is the lead up to fiercely contested elections at the end of August.

Many roadside restaurants boast a specialty, “Fish on Fire”. The fear of pretty much everybody in the country is that come September, it will be the country, not the fish that are on the barbeque.

July 31, 2020 - Producers of various local products will have the opportunity to present their produce at Luštica Bay twice a week, on Saturdays and Wednesdays, as part of the project "Luštica Bay Farm Fresh".

Every Wednesday and Saturday there will be a collection of selected products such as cheese, olive oil, soaps, juices, liqueurs, wine, souvenirs and similar products on show in business space B2-3 on the Promenade in Marina Luštica Bay, from 10am to 9pm. The farm-style initiative, showcasing fresh domestic produce, is taking place in cooperation with the Association of Rural Households of Montenegro, as announced by the developers of the tourist complex in Krtoli, Luštica Development.

"Already on Saturday, 1st August, wine, olive oil and hand-made olive products will be available from Garnet Winery and the Čelanovic Family Mill. On Wednesday, 5th August, products made by the Pony Art Garden household will be on show. These include homemade luštic cheeses, olives and olive oil, homemade luštic wine, liqueurs, souvenirs made of olive wood, shells and stones. On the same day, there will be a display of honey products made by the Radman household,” states Luštica Development.

Luštica Bay Marina

"Luštica Bay Farm Fresh" is a specially designed platform created with the intention of providing a constant overview of local products and a space to connect producers with a new market. Luštica Development is a strong promoter of continued cooperation with local producers and suppliers, and with this in mind, Marina Village, in partnership with local suppliers, has this year continued to open new facilities, including restaurants, service facilities and beach clubs.

HRB

July 30, 2020 - Laboratories of the Institute of Public Health have completed PCR analysis of 513 samples for the new coronavirus since the last sampling, among which 57 results were positive. There are currently 2,020 active COVID-19 cases in Montenegro.

Most of the new infections are from Podgorica, a total of thirty. Another 11 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Bijelo Polje, three in Nikšić and Bar, two in Kotor, Cetinje, and Rožaje, and one each in Andrijevica, Danilovgrad, Budva, and Petnjica.

One death was reported in a patient from Bijelo Polje treated at the General Hospital in Berane. Since the beginning of June, the total number of confirmed deaths is 39. Since the beginning of the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic the total is 48.

Seventy-four patients have recovered from the infection, so beginning from June 14, 690 people have recovered.

Since the beginning of the year, the number of registered cases of infection with the new coronavirus is 3,073.

In Podgorica and Berane, 14 COVID-19 patients have a severe clinical picture

The Clinical Center of Montenegro is currently treating 32 patients in whom the presence of coronavirus has been confirmed. There are 16 patients in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, 14 in the Internal Clinic, five of which are in the Intensive Care Unit, and two in the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology.

In the Internal Clinic, one patient is connected to mechanical and two to non-invasive ventilation and six have a severe clinical picture.

Sixty-three COVID-19 positive patients are being treated at the Berane General Hospital.

"Yesterday, one patient died, aged 81, who had more comorbidities," the statement said.

A total of eight patients have a severe clinical picture, and four are on non-invasive ventilation.

Official: Montenegrin citizens cannot go to EU countries until further notice

Montenegro, as well as the countries of the region, is not on the updated list of the Council of the European Union when it comes to countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.

According to the recommendation, EU members should gradually remove travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following countries from July 31: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay, while China is subject to confirm reciprocity.

According to the EU Council, residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican should be considered EU residents for the purposes of this recommendation.

When it comes to the criteria for opening borders, the EU recommends that the number of new COVID-19 cases during the last 14 days and per 100,000 inhabitants is close to or below the EU average. Other indicators are a stable or declining trend of new cases during this period compared to the previous 14 days, as well as the overall response to COVID-19, taking into account available information, including aspects such as testing, surveillance, contact tracking, retention, treatment, and reporting, as well as the reliability of the data.

EU citizens and members of their families and residents of EU countries and their families are exempt from these rules.

Journalists support IPH and WHO campaign: "Save Us"

Journalists from several national television stations have supported the Institute of Public Health and World Health Organization initiative "Save Us," which appeals to people who are being tested or are positive for coronavirus to report their contacts.

The initiative was supported by Radomir Kračković from Vijesti Television, Nebojša Skenderi and Dijana Dukaj from RTCG, Milica Pavićević from Prva TV, Mirjana Maja Popović from Nova M, Jelka Malović - TV 7, as well as Milica Minić from A1 Television.

"Save us" is part of the broader campaign #DistanceHandMask, which aims to promote the importance of respect for measures, solidarity, and collective responsibility in combating the epidemic of the new coronavirus in Montenegro," said the Institute of Public Health.

July 30, 2020 - Although this year's edition of the Purgatorije Festival in Tivat will start on August 1 as announced, the current epidemiological situation means that the premiere of a new play produced by the Tivat Center for Culture and the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Cetinje, is postponed. "The Other Side of the Wind" is ready, and the ensemble is eager to present it to the audience.

The starting point for the creation of the play was the poems "The Incredible Sea Song" and "The Other Side of the Wind" by Miroslav Mika Antić, a Serbian poet, director, set designer, journalist, and painter.

"We will tell the story of some of our sailors, not exactly Mika's, but ours. "The Other Side of the Wind" is a poem with excellent dramatic potential that we used as a template, and then, again, with his poetry, we put the story together so that the character is a segment of each story. By fitting the characters together in this way, we tried to talk about love, about growing up, about life, about the sea - which is a symbol of a beautiful, but turbulent life that must still be lived. And for us, art and acting are life," Branko Ilić, dramatic artist, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Cetinje, and director of the student play that was to premiere in Tivat, told Radio Tivat.

"This is an exam in the subject of acting, which, we hope, will look a lot like a good play if it is acted well. There was no classical directing here, but learning the art fof acting. When the acting is well arranged and the performance is good, and when we have a good story to work with, then we have everything we need, direction concept-wise, so I hope that it will be accepted by the audience," Branko Ilić points out.

"One must live, one must work, so creating in the time of an epidemic is not a precedent. The situation with the virus and protection measures is indeed awkward. Still, we fully complied with them when creating this show," Ilić explains the working conditions during the past month in Tivat.

"Of course, we were able to carry on thanks to the management of the Tivat Cultural Center, which recognized the importance of the fact that art must not stop and that culture is not "the last hole in the pipe," as it is in our country and the region.

Thanks to the excellent management of the Center, Neven Staničić, and Vojislav Kaludjerović, everything went as it should because they enabled the students to be in isolation and to have practically no contact with the outside world. The students entered this project healthy, no one was ill, nor is anyone now, we did not infect anyone, and we managed to reconcile the corona situation and acting."

It is undoubtedly a difficult time for everyone, even for a culture that is our essential need, and its absence in our lives can have consequences for our spiritual growth.

"Culture has always been spared because it is often perceived as less important than other things. We are trying to make this different. We were also able to come to terms with our destiny, finish the exam online, hold a couple of seminar papers, finish, and give grades. We will all be satisfied and go swimming. But I am lucky to have excellent students for whom it is more important to cope and, despite the adversities, finish their work when they might need to rest.

If you can sit in a cafe, be on a plane or in the street with a mask, why can't you go to the theater and why can't you sit in a hall with 100 seats, according to the number prescribed? And the cultural envoys themselves are discouraged and not up to date. They should insist on and demand that their programs are shown. I am not in favor of not respecting the measures, but you have to live and work. And acting is our job. Very quickly we will have to face the economic problems caused by this situation. "

The situation in the world is complicated and complex. But historically, there have been more complicated situations in which culture existed, in times of war, economic crises, and even epidemics. And it always managed to survive.

"It can do it even now if we take care of young people if we make them theatre-lovers who will continue to insist on the survival of culture." The Tivat Cultural Center knows, feels, invests in, and cultivates young talents, and is the right place for a regional theater, "says Ilić.

The premiere of the play "The Other Side of the Wind" was initially planned on a small stage in the Buća-Luković mansion. Due to epidemiological conditions, it will be performed on the Summer Stage, where is much more space, both on stage and in the auditorium.

"Physical distance in theater acting is absurd. It's just the kind of art that needs direct contact between its performers. That's why we had to be responsible for ourselves and others, be healthy at the start and maintain our health. The eight of us worked in the large, well-ventilated hall of the Center, and everything went well. "

The premiere was postponed because the epidemiological situation has worsened, and the NKT measures have been tightened, proscribing that over 40 people are not allowed to gather outdoors.

"There are already eight of us, plus wardrobe, a make-up artist and a technician, which is 15-20 people in the team, so there is no sense in running a big stage for just 20 more people in the audience. We hope that the number of infected people declines and that the measures will be mitigated very soon to allow 200 people to gather outdoors again. Of course, we will harmonize with all the National Coordination Body measures, and we hope that the Prime Minister will be there in the middle of August. It is essential that we are ready, "Ilic concluded.

Purgatorije will be held, dynamic of the program depends on epidemiological situation

The Director of the Cultural Center Tivat, Neven Staničić, pointed out earlier that the program of this year's Purgatorije will undoubtedly be reduced and rely mainly on local productions. The plan includes plays "Filomena Marturano", "Bokelian D-mol", "Little Pirate", "Tre Sorelle", "Jami District" with the celebration of its 100th performance, but also a couple of guests - "Don Quixote" by the City Theater from Podgorica and the Bar Chronicle, then "Twilight of the Gods" by the Belgrade Drama Theater and "Colonel of Birds" of the City Theater of Podgorica.

This year's Pugratorije will have its own literary and musical segment, but the dynamics of the program will depend on the epidemiological situation.

Source: Radio Tivat

August 1, 2020 - The second Wild Beauty Art Festival is planned to take place from 31st July to 22nd August at several locations across Montenegro. Nine music programmes are planned for Black Lake on Durmitor - the already well-known site of the festival - as well as the UNESCO site Stećci, and for the new coastal home of the festival, the unique ambience of Luštica Bay.

The Wild Beauty Art platform was created on the initiative of the KotorArt team, after almost two decades of the latter festival’s existence. KotorArt is now a festival of national and international importance and provides an active contribution to branding Montenegro as a tourist destination with high quality and unique artistic and cultural content. Last summer, the first edition of Wild Beauty Art was held successfully, the idea being to ​​present the natural beauties of Montenegro not “only” purely as unique natural places in themselves, but also as spaces for top artistic creations.

The programmes planned for this summer have been carefully designed as a blend of artistic quality and musical works receptive to a wider audience, and will showcase a wide range of musical genres. In the next four weeks of summer, programmes with jazz, world music, popular melodies, but also art music are planned every weekend. The main events are scheduled for Friday at 6 pm on the Black Lake and Saturday at 9 pm in Luštica Bay. The festival starts on Friday, 31st July, next to the Black Lake, with a performance by the band Ars Longa, consisting of violinist Nenad Jovanović, flutist Tamara Knezević and double bassist Vasilija Gagović.

All Wild Beauty Art programmes are planned in the open, with maximum respect for the measures of the National Coordinating Body for Infectious Diseases, in order to ensure the safety of the audience, musicians and the festival team. Admission to all events within the Wild Beauty Art Festival is free, and the organizing team, sponsors and partners of the festival ask the audience to adhere to the NKT measures, especially in terms of wearing protective masks and maintaining physical distance.

The second Wild Beauty Art Festival is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro and the Tourist Organization of Zabljak, in cooperation with the National Restaurant Black Lake, Durmitor National Park, Lustica Bay and the International Festival KotorArt. The organizer reserves the right to change the programme in line with the epidemiological situation. The latest information on the Wild Beauty Art programme can be found on the Facebook and Instagram profiles of the Festival, as well as on the website www.wildbeautyart.me

Source: RTCG

197 COVID-19 patients in hospital

IPH limits health facilities to a daily number of samples for COVID-19

The citizens of Montenegro will not be allowed to enter EU countries soon

July 28, 2020 - Laboratories of the Institute of Public Health completed PCR analysis of 598 samples for the new coronavirus, among which 56 results were COVID-19 positive.

New cases were registered in Podgorica 22, Cetinje 6, Berane 5, Pljevlja 5, Nikšić 3, Kotor 3, Bar 3, Tivat 3, Bijelo Polje 2, Andrijevica 2, Kolašin 1, Danilovgrad 1.

No deaths were reported. The total number of confirmed deaths since the beginning of June is 36. Since the beginning of the first COVID-19 epidemic wave on March 17, 45 patients have died in Montenegro.

Thirty patients recovered from the infection so that the total number of retrieved since June 14 is 524.

The total number of active cases of COVID-19 in Montenegro is currently 2,065. As of March 17, a total of 2,949 patients infected with the new coronavirus have been registered in Montenegro.

At the Clinical Center of Montenegro, 31 COVID-19 patients are currently being treated. "There are 18 patients in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, 11 in the Internal Clinic, one in the Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology, and also one in the Center for Vascular Surgery," the Clinical Center of Montenegro announced. In the Internal Clinic, one patient was connected to mechanical and four to non-invasive ventilation.

At the General Hospital in Berane, six patients who are positive for coronavirus have a severe clinical picture and are on continuous oxygen therapy. The Berane hospital, they said, is treating 64 COVID-19 patients.

The fourth contingent of assistance within the EU support to Montenegro in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic has arrived

The fourth contingent of medical equipment was delivered to Montenegro, which contains 86 respirators and over 235,000 pieces of personal protective equipment for the health system's needs, the EU Info Center announced.

The statement added that the donation is part of the European Union (EU) project for emergency support to Montenegro in the fight against COVID-19, worth a total of three million euros, and which is being implemented by the UNDP Office in Montenegro.

"Since the beginning of the project, from April until today, a total of 100 hospital respirators, ten modern X-ray devices, and over 400,000 pieces of personal protective equipment have been delivered," it is stated in the announcement.

The head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Ambassador Aivo Orav, pointed out that the donation arrives at the right time when Montenegro is facing the second wave of the epidemic.

"Respirators will significantly improve the Montenegrin health system's capacities to save the lives of the most endangered patients. However, I sincerely hope that not everyone will be in use," Orav pointed out.

He added that the EU had provided 50m euros in long-term support for health, economic recovery, entrepreneurship, business, and other sectors affected by the crisis.

"We have provided an additional 60 million euros for loans on extremely favorable terms to support the country's economic stability. We also plan to build two new clinics within the Clinical Center of Montenegro, for infectious diseases and dermatology. In "periods when all EU member states are affected by the crisis caused by the pandemic, the scope of our support to Montenegro is a clear proof of the sincerity and strength of our partnership. Montenegro can count on the support of the EU and its citizens, both in good and difficult times," Orav concluded.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro and the head of the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases, Milutin Simović, expressed his belief that this valuable support will be an additional motivation for raising responsibility, unity, and respect for measures for the health of all citizens.

"We have already shown once how to win this challenge. Let's show it again," said Simovic and thanked the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Orava and the UNDP Office to realize this project.

The CCE requests an urgent response from the NCB on the measure of mandatory wearing of the protective mask

The Center for Civic Education (CCE) sent an emergency to the National Coordination Body for Infectious Diseases (NCB) and the Ministry of Health for urgent clarification of NCB measures. It mainly refers to the general provisions for wearing protective masks, given that NCB deafened to the CCE request sent last week.

CCE urgently requests from the NCT a precise explanation of this measure since NCB influences all organizers of any gathering, especially system institutions, organizers of meetings/events, and TV stations to ensure compliance with these measures when they are hosts. It is expected of public officials to be the ones to take the lead in complying with the rules.

"There are numerous examples of continuing non-compliance with this measure in public space, from its adoption until today. In that context, we emphasize yesterday's and today's plenary session of the Parliament of Montenegro. Most of the MPs present did not respect the prescribed measures and wear protective masks. Does that mean that the same rules do not apply to MPs as to all other citizens of Montenegro? Does parliamentary immunity protect them from viruses? ", reads the statement of the CCE.

They add that at this moment, it is not right for NCB not to answer questions.

"When we have a severe challenge in controlling the pandemic, it is not suitable for NCB not to answer justified questions and to consciously keep some of the essential measures unclear. It encourages selectivity in their application, and all this does not contribute to an effective fight against this virus. Representatives of NCBs often appeal to citizens to consistently follow all measures. By avoiding to be precise, they prevent this and undermine their credibility," the statement concludes.

188 COVID-19 patients in hospital, 12 cases with a severe clinical picture

Begic: The epidemiological situation is complex and challenging

No flights on the Tivat-Moscow route yet