31 January 2019 - Meeting commitments from the Programme of Accession of Montenegro to the EU 2019-2020 leads to the adoption and application of European standards in all areas and improvement of the quality of life of citizens, Deputy Chief Negotiator Dragan Marković told a press conference following the Government's session.

At the session, the Government of Montenegro passed the Programme of Accession of Montenegro to the EU for the period 2019-2020, which represents a two-year plan of legislative, strategic and administrative reform activities of the Government of Montenegro in the field of European integration and fulfiling obligations from the negotiation process.

Ms Marković stated that, by implementing this document, the Government would intensify the reforms aimed at raising the living standards and the quality of life of citizens.

According to the Accession Programme, in the next two-year period, 108 laws and 254 sub-legal acts, 112 strategic documents, as well as the strengthening of administrative capacities in the institutions that carry the reform activities, are planned.

"The most obligations in the legislative section are expected in the chapters: 24 - Justice, freedom and security, and the largest number of sub-legal acts in chapters: 1 - Freedom of movement of goods, Chapter 12 - Food safety, veterinary and photocontrol supervision, 14 - Traffic policy and Chapter 27 - Environment and Climate Change. The majority of strategic documents are planned under Chapter 14 - Transport Policy, Chapter 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security, and Chapter 27 - Environment and Climate Change. The greatest need for strengthening administrative capacity is under Chapter 23 - Justice and Fundamental Rights, Chapter 24 - Justice, Freedom and Security, Chapter 27 - Environment and Climate Change, Chapters 1 - Freedom of Movement of Goods. and Chapter 19 - Social Policy and Employment," Ms Marković explained.

She pointed out that the most significant number of obligations in implementing the Programme of Accession covers sectors of the economy, finance, agriculture and rural development, and transport and maritime affairs.

Given the importance of chapters 23 and 24 for progress in the accession negotiations, the Deputy Chief Negotiator noted that the Programme of Accession defines activities aimed at fulfilling provisional benchmarks in these areas.

She explained that in these chapters, the passing of several important laws had been planned, namely: the Law on Internal Affairs, Law on Media, Law Amending the Law on National Broadcaster RTCG, Law Amending the Law on State Prosecutor's Office, Law Amending the Law on Courts, Law Amending the Law on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters with EU member states.

She said that the quality and efficient implementation of the Program of Accession would ensure the improvement of the results of the negotiation structure, maintaining the excellent dynamics of the accession process and achieving internal readiness to close chapters temporarily.

30 January 2019 - Culture Minister Aleksandar Bogdanović paid a working visit to the Holy See, during which he talked to the Vatican with the Under-secretary for Relations with the States of the Secretariat of the Holy See, Mgr Antoine Camilleri and Director of the Historical Archives of the Holy See, Johan Ickx. 

The meeting with the Mgr Antoine Cammilleri discussed the continuation of cooperation in the field of culture between Montenegro and the Holy See. 

During the conversation, the interlocutors concluded that the recently organised visits of the State Secretary of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Montenegro and the President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović to the Holy See, represent an important step in strengthening the relations of the two countries, and stated that he is convinced that the announced opening of the Nunciature of the Holy See in Montenegro will soon be realised. 

Minister Bogdanović emphasised the special importance of activities for issuing the first book from the edition of documents on Montenegro from the Vatican archives, which should be completed this year.

"It is a book that will contain authentic correspondences and negotiations when signing the Concordat in 1886, which represents the basis of historical relations between Montenegro and the Catholic Church, but also testifies to the proud and rich multicultural and multi-confessional history of Montenegro. This will be the first edition of the books that we will be published and which will contain documents that testify to the rich and meaningful relations between Montenegro and the Holy See," Minister Bogdanović said. 

During the visit to the Vatican, Minister Bogdanović also had a working meeting with the director of the Historical Archives Johan Ickx, who expressed satisfaction that Montenegro and the Holy See continued the cooperation initiated during the last year's meeting in Rome and confirmed during the stay of mr Ickx in Montenegro last November. 

Minister Bogdanović expressed his great satisfaction with the possibility of accessing an impressive archival material of over 1.5 million digitised documents, which is located in the Historical Archives of the Secretariat of the Holy See, and pointed out that the project of collecting archival material will be of great importance for further research and documentation of the history of Montenegro. 

The meeting was an opportunity to specify further activities in the realisation of the project of gathering material on Montenegro, available in the Historical Archive of the Holy See, and highlighted the important recent formation of Montenegrin historian teams who will stay in the Vatican and, through the availability of their archives, certainly contribute to the illumination of lesser known fact about the history of Montenegro. The meeting defined the future way of work, the composition of the team of Montenegrin historians and agreed that the presentation of the book that will be published, will be realised in Montenegro and the Vatican. 

Minister Bogdanović expressed his satisfaction at the meeting that the cooperation between the Montenegrin institutions and the Historical Archives of the Holy See was supported by the highest state officials of the two countries.

The visit to the Vatican was also an opportunity for a meeting with Giacomo Zucconi, the Secretary General of the Sant’Egidio Community. 

Minister Bogdanović emphasised the belief that the previously defined cooperation in the signed Memorandum of Cooperation between Montenegro and the Community Sant’Egidio would be a good basis for the implementation of concrete projects. 

In this sense, the readiness of the interlocutors to be announced is to organise an international Youth Conference on Ecumenism at the beginning of next year in Montenegro, jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Community of Sant'Egidio. Minister Bogdanović also sent an official invitation to the President of the ZSE, Mr Marc Impagliazzo, to visit Montenegro in the upcoming period, which was accepted with satisfaction. 

Meetings, which once again confirmed the quality of relations between Montenegro and the Holy See, represented the continuation of talks held last year at the highest level, and were also attended by the Ambassador of Montenegro to the Holy See Miodrag Vlahović and the director of the National Museum of Montenegro Anastazija Miranović.

30 January 2019 - Montenegro can serve as an example to many other members of the Council of Europe when it comes to the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, said Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pažin at the opening of the regional conference "Duty to Execute Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights" in Podgorica. 

"As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, I am very proud of Montenegro being the front-runner of European countries in the timely, conscientious and orderly execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights," said DPM Pažin. 

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Montenegro should continue with such a good and responsible attitude towards the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, adding, "But we should be aware that the most important is development and strengthening of national institutions for the protection of human rights and freedoms, because national institutions should carry the fundamental burden, and the protection of human rights should be primarily achieved at the national level." 

He pointed out that no judgment of the European Court of Human Rights establishing a violation of any of the Convention rights is at the expense of Montenegro. "On the contrary, they give us guidelines in which direction the Montenegrin legal order should be developed, in which way we should promote and strengthen human rights and freedoms for the benefit of our citizens." 

Speaking of the importance of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Deputy Prime Minister estimated that it was the most sophisticated international legal instrument for the protection of human rights and freedoms.

"The citizen becomes the subject of international law, in a procedural sense equal to the most powerful of the states and the richest of governments. No other international legal instrument has made such a strong promotion of human rights and freedoms as the European Convention," concluded Pažin.

31 January 2019 - The sixth winter edition of the "Best of Montenegro" fair will be held on February 9 and 10 at the Delta City Mall in Podgorica.

The traditional agricultural event "Best from Montenegro" will be attended by producers of wine, olives and olive oil, honey, prosciutto, milk and dairy products, medicinal herbs and various types of other organic products.

The fair gathers producers from all over Montenegro in one place, and it is an ideal opportunity to point to the problems that they encounter in the production and distribution of their products.

This fair aims to influence the awareness of consumers to buy as many homemade products as possible, and that Montenegrin food products become national brands which should be present in every consumer basket.

During the two-day event, visitors will be able to directly purchase products from Montenegrin manufacturers, and get acquainted with the production process.

Organizers highlight that the point of gathering producers in one place is to motivate as many people as possible to produce homemade agricultural products, but also to emphasize the obstacles and problems related to production to resolve the main issues. By making changes in the production process and providing help to the producers within the agriculture field, it should become apparent that agriculture deserves to be the second most perspective branch of the economy in Montenegro (after tourism).  

With the help of this fair, which is trusted by many residents of Montenegro, the products of local producers, especially small farms, will be able to find a more accessible path to the Montenegrin market. Just how successful the project "Best of Montenegro", is seen by the fact that each time the event is visited by about 20 000 visitors. It is expected that the best from Montenegro 2019 will fully meet the expectations of both organizers and producers and consumers.

31 January 2019 - During the first seven days of the Jubilee 50th Mimosa Festival, the ancient fortresses of Herceg Novi, run by Public Cultural Institution Herceg Fest, will be open to visitors. From February 1 to 7, Kanli Kula Fortress and Forte Mare will be open every day from 10 am to 4 pm, and the entrance is free!

The Municipality of Herceg Novi, through the National Commission for UNESCO, has nominated Forte Mare Fortress for inscription on the World Heritage List. The candidacy was sent within the already existing nomination "Venetian fortifications of the 16th and 17th centuries." Last year, the candidacy passed the relevant institutions and entered the list as a transnational nomination of Montenegro, Italy and Croatia.

Forte Mare Fortress (The Sea Fortress) is located on the coast. It was built between the 14th and 17th century, restored in 1833 and from 1952 was reconstructed in the summer cinema. The fortress was built on solid rock, above the promenade, and within the walls, there is a passage from the seashore to the top of the fortress. On the upper side, there is “SEA GATE ( Porta di Mare) with preserved fortification elements of Bosnian period. Forte Mare certainly among the most beautiful examples of fortification architecture and quite realistic assumptions are that there was a nucleus of the Old Town.

Kanli Kula Fortress (Bloody Tower), a monumental fortress in the Old Town, was built by the Turks after 1539. It was built on the site and foundations of an earlier fortress. In the present size, the work of the Turkish builders has preserved, in the most part, the authentic architecture of that time. Raised at an altitude of 85m, on the north side of the city, and with its position and ramparts, the complex fortification system of the Old Town is rounded up. Dimensions of the fortress 60x70m, with corner towers of coarse domestic stone, make a monumental impression. Some parts of the western wall belong to the period of early use of firearms. The Turks gave it a final appearance, while the Venetians made certain repairs and attachments after significant damage, especially in 1687, when the Herceg Novi was conquered after a two-year Turkish rule.

When it comes to Kanli Kula Fortress, this building is awaiting the rehabilitation of the landslide of a wider area, as this is only the first step in a major project of rehabilitation of the fortress itself. According to the tender of the Government of Montenegro - Directorate of Public Works, the site will be repaired by the Institute for Construction DOO from Podgorica.

Members of the Army of Montenegro (VCG) will be obliged to participate in all legally prescribed activities in the international forces abroad. This is foreseen by the Law on the Use of VCG Units in International Forces and Involvement of Civilian Protection, Police and Personnel in State Administration Authorities in Peace Missions and other activities abroad, to be discussed by the Security and Defense Committee.

The bill stipulates that, besides VCG units, some individual members of VCG may also be referred to the international forces abroad for exercises and training.

"By amending the Act, it is possible for the Major General of the VCG, with the consent of the Minister of Defense, to instruct the military units of lower rank in the Army to go abroad, not only for training, but also for exercise," says the explanatory statement.

It is mandated that joining VCG units for use in international forces abroad to support peace, crisis response and humanitarian operations, encourage the development of democracy, legal security and the protection of human rights, to which Montenegro is obliged to enter into international agreements, is conducted on a voluntary basis.

"And for the activity of the defense in the allied states in terms of the North Atlantic Treaty, the participation of VCG members is obligatory", it is said in the explanatory statement of the law.

Obligation of VCG members to participate in all the activities prescribed by the law in international forces is prescribed. "In this way, it is possible to use in the international forces the complete composition of VCG formation unit, which is declared to be internationally certified and NATO-certified. This ensures that all members of the unit simultaneously carry out the task, since only a complete and compact unit can perform a dedicated task in the international forces," the explanatory statement states. 

By the bill of law, it is prescribed that in the international forces, i.e. peace missions and other activities abroad are to be referred prepared, well-trained, healthy and equipped units, i.e. members of the Army, civil protection and employees of the state administration. The right to financial compensation for damage to the body, i.e. in the case of the death of VCG members during the international forces, exercises and training abroad or members of the operational protection and rescue unit, police and employees in state administration authorities. "The right on financial compensation for damage to the organism is decided by the Ministry of Defense, or by the state administration authority whose elders execute the act of the Government of Montenegro on participation in peacekeeping missions and other activities abroad," says the explanatory statement. Launching the procedure and deciding on financial compensation in case of death these organs carry out ex officio. The amount of financial benefits is prescribed by the Government of Montenegro.

Text by MINA News, on January 31st 2019, read more at Vijesti

The Rotary club Kotor will organize a big "Masquerade Humanitarian Ball" to collect money for the procurement of new diagnostic equipment for Tivat Health Center. Rotarians from Tivat, Kotor and Herceg Novi gathered in RC Kotor to set themselves the goal of collecting the money for the purchase of a new colposcopy device for Tivat public health institution, and for this, a thoughtful and imaginative way of collecting the funds has been designed.

In the spirit of the traditional Boka Bay Carnival Festivals held in February, RC Kotor will host the event at the Business center "Vukšič" in Radanovići on February 16th. The last organizational details by the members of RC Kotor, chaired by the captain Rajko Čavor, were agreed at their regular weekly meeting in Tivat last night, and a rich entertaining program and lottery are being arranged.

Ball scheduled for February 16^th

The ticket price for the ball with a festive dinner, for which is mandatory for the visitors to wear a mask, can be bought on the spot for 30 euros.

All the funds collected from the tickets sold masks and donations made that evening will be paid to the Tivat Health Center for the procurement of a colposcopy device - a diagnostic appliance used primarily for gynaecological examinations.

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on January 31st 2019, read more at Vijesti

The concert of the regional star Zdravko Čolić on Friday evening at the plateau in front of Hotel Igalo will open the Jubilee 52. Mimosa festival, as confirmed by the organizers at today's press conference.

We remind that we thought that the expected spectacle, in case of heavy rain, would take place at the Igalo Sports Center, which has been discarded as an option.

"Due to technical and security reasons, it is not feasible to accommodate a large number of people in this facility, and the interest for Čolić's concert is enormous," said the Vice-President Miloš Konjević

During the 50 days of the festival, 60 different programs will take place: from folk festivals to the theater, art, literary and other programs. Director of Herceg Novi Fest, Gordana Porobic Krcunovic, said that Herceg Novi would be "a European festival stage" during that period. Secretary for Social Activities and Sports, Darko Klasić announced the sports program within Mimosa Festival, which will have 15 different events from the Coup of sports fishermen to Race of “karića”.

To the remarks that the program, defined late and still not accurate, overwhelming and without a clear concept, the Festival Director said that they adhere to the original concept from the 70s.

It remains to be seen, for example, how many visitors outside of Herceg Novi will be motivated to visit the Mimosa Festival because of the Days of Norway, Poland, Italy and some other countries or for a theater show.

The representatives of the Directorate have announced that the jubilee celebration of the mimosa is expecting a record number of visitors, after all, that they have done in recent months in promoting this unique winter event. Director of Tourist Organization, Pavle Obradović pointed out that a lot of marketing and advertising of the Mimosa Festival in the region was done. He is confident that the hotels and private accommodations will be fully booked. The excellent promotion, as stated from the Festival's Directorate, also contributed the Mimosa Festival Caravan, which visited 17 cities in five countries. Good acquaintances claim that the effect would surely be better if the Caravan was organized at least a month or two before the beginning of the Festival.

Text by Slavica Kosic, on January 31st 2019, read more at Vijesti

January 31, 2019 - Dr Ivan Ilic, the director of the General Hospital of Kotor, spoke with Radio Kotor about the need to build a new, modern facility in Boka Bay, which would bring together health services now obtained in three hospitals in the territory of the Kotor Municipality. Dr Ilic recently pointed out that this idea was seriously taken into account by the authorities and that the realisation of the mentioned investments is not impossible, reports Radio Kotor.

January 31, 2019 - The Old Captain's House - the Stumberger Museum in Baosici will open its door for visitors for the Mimosa, Fish, and Wine Feast, which attracts the most significant number of visitors of the Herceg Novi Riviera during the Mimosa Festival. On Saturday, 2 February, the museum will be open for visitors from 8.30 am until 3 pm. Entrance is free.

Miroslav Stumberger was born in 1892 in Slovenia. A highly educated man who spoke five languages was a passionate explorer and fighter for preserving the history, culture and ethnographic heritage of Boka Bay and the whole of Yugoslavia.

Stumberger has collected a valuable collection of antiquities that adorned his house in an exquisite ambiance, which he invented at the end of the 50s, later called the Old Captain's House.

He gave the house and legacy to the Baosici Local Community and the city of Herceg Novi. The Stumberger Museum's settings make collections of icons, weapons, technical, naval and other devices, amphorae, old family photos, ethnological objects, geographic and naval charts.

At the end of the last century, this museum was one of the most visited places on the Herceg Novi Riviera.

In the valuable legacy, there were over 700 titles. Stumberger's library contained the British Encyclopedia of 1788, the Famous English Bible of 1548, Napoleon's 1806 Code, Astronomy and the Basics of Geometry from 1604 and many more. The museum of Miroslav Stumberger, "The Old Captain's House," was several times a target of vandals and thieves, repeatedly robbed. Between lots of lost artifacts was a valuable British Encyclopedia.

Miroslav Stumberger was born in Brezice, Slovenia. He completed the Military-Naval Academy in Pula and continued his service as a Naval Officer in the Army of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

He was the first commandant of the submarine "Nebojša," today exhibited in Porto Montenegro as an integral part of the permanent setting of the Maritime Heritage Collection. As a captain of the battleship and commander of the South Military Sector based in Kumbor, Miroslav Stumberger retired in 1937 at the age of 45.

Stumberger was a well-known and acclaimed antiquity finder and ship modeler. Among the valuable artifacts of his collection, the museum visitors also have the opportunity to see his craftsmanship- models of old sailing ships he created with a lot of knowledge and passion.

Public institution Herceg Novi Museums and Galleries, after decades of decay, renovated and reopened the Old Captain’s House - Stumberger Museum to the public in July 2015.