29 December 2018 - A group of deputies of the ruling coalition has recently submitted an amendment to the Draft Law on the Government budget, which envisages new aid to the flag carrier Montenegro Airlines (MA) of 5,5 million EUR. That is just one of a dozen amendments that were submitted to the bill, reports Montenegrin news agency, Dan.

Namely, in the explanation of the Draft Law, it is stated that the funds above will be provided to Montenegro Airlines if legal requirements for the use of funds are met, all to fulfil the obligations of this company.

The explanation of the submitted amendment also states that the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, headed by Osman Nurković, submitted an updated request to the Ministry of Finance on December 25 on the above issue.

It is expected that in the forthcoming period the amendment will be accepted and the company will receive new budget support. Last year (2017), the company acquired 15 million EUR from the state, while it is unclear whether the country provided aid to MA in 2018. Montenegro Airlines currently has an accumulated deficit of over 70 million EUR.

Montenegro Airlines is the flag carrier of Montenegro that operates scheduled and charter services throughout Europe from its hub at Podgorica Airport with a second base maintained at Tivat Airport. The company has an excellent reputation for a safe and reliable carrier, and the country decided to provide all the support Montenegro Airlines needs in overcoming its financial difficulties.

29 December 2018 - In Montenegro, Christmas Eve is celebrated on the 6th January and Christmas Day falls on the 7th January because the main Orthodox Churches still use the old 'Julian' Calendar. In the Orthodox Church, Advent starts on 28th November and last for six weeks. During Advent, some people fast, and they don't eat food that comes from animals (meat, milk, eggs, etc.).

Christmas Eve is called 'Badnji dan' during the day and 'Badnje veče' after sunset. It's a time where families prepare for Christmas. Many don't eat food that comes from animals on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve morning, it was traditional for men to go out into the woods and cut a type of Yule Log called a 'Badnjak' (Christmas Eve tree), generally from an oak tree. Now more people live in towns and cities, and they can buy a Badnjak from the market! The Badnjak is brought into the house on Christmas Eve evening and is meant to burn through the evening and night.

Outside of churches, there are often large bonfires where people gather in the early evening on Christmas Eve. There are sometimes nativity and Christmas plays put on either outside or inside the churches. People can bring special Badnjak to put on the bonfires.

There are two Orthodox Churches in Montenegro, The Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church. They have different main Cathedrals and have two large bonfires outside them on Christmas Eve.

'Česnica' is a special kind of bread made at Christmas and it's made in a round shape. The bread is passed around, and each member of the family gets a piece. There is a coin hidden in it and whoever gets the coin will be particularly fortunate in the next year! At the main Christmas meal you might also eat 'pečenica' (roast pork), 'sarma' (cabbage stuffed with rice and ground meat) and different kinds of cakes!

Under the dinner table, there should be some straw as a symbol of the stable/cave where Jesus was born. When the straw is spread out, some people make the noise of a chicken! Clucking like a chicken symbolises that Jesus wanted people to follow him like one big family (like chickens gather together!). It's also common for a handful of walnuts to be spread on the straw.

In Montenegrin, you wish a Happy/Merry Christmas with “Hristos se rodi” - Christ is born and “Vaistinu se rodi” - truly born (reply).

Source: Why Christmas – Christmas around the world

28 December 2018 - The Government of Montenegro adopted the Proposal Amendments to the Law on the Use of the Units of the Armed Forces of Montenegro in the international forces and the participation of the members of the civil protection, police and state administration authorities in the peacekeeping missions and other activities abroad. The proposed amendments stipulate that the involvement of the members of Armed Forces of Montenegro in the missions, responses to crisis and missions within the humanitarian operations be mandatory.

Up until now, the principle of volunteerism has been applied in the participation in missions.

The first step for a specific Armed Forces member to be sent to an international mission is an application in relations to the announcement of the Ministry of Defence, as explained by the representatives of the Ministry. If a person does not apply for the announcement, they cannot be assigned to a task, regardless of the need to send the unit to the task. “The reason why the Army cannot send a certain unit to the NATO mission can be that the unit lacks a couple of members, which can bring its occupancy into question and, consequently, the ability to fulfil the deferred task”.

This is the reason why the procedure for the amendment to the existing law has been initiated. “The amendments will create the possibility that a whole unit can be sent into a mission, provided that all the members had previously been trained for the joint fulfilment of the task,” said the representatives of the Ministry.

The Proposal Law on the Amendments to this law also defines that a member of the Armed Forces, operation protection unit, or any member of the unit in charge, will have right to seek compensation of the damage caused in case they get injured or wounded during the participation in the mission or training session.

If Montenegro sends two officers in Iraq in the second half of 2019, that will be the fourth participation of Montenegro into the NATO peacekeeping missions, aside from those where the country participates under the auspices of the EU. Montenegro sent its first troupes to the international peacekeeping mission ISAF in Afghanistan in 2010.

Source: CDM

28 December 2018 - Preparations for the first organized New Year's Eve celebration in the open air in Igalo, in the parking lot in front of the former hotel Igalo, are all being completed as planned.

According to the director of the local Tourist Organisation, Pavle Obradović, the reservations and sale of the arrangements in this community are excellent. The Palmond Bay, the Lighthouse Hotel, as well as many larger apartments, are all fully booked. The representatives of the TO expressed regret that the Institute “Dr Simo Milošević” is not open for the holidays because they predict that its rooms would probably be fully booked as well. They also mentioned that they have high expectations for the next season.

The concert stage in Igalo is already set up. During the three festive nights, traffic through Sava Ilić Street, from the intersection (where the Tamaris Hotel used to be) to Hotel Vojvodina, will be banned for all motor vehicles an hour before the start of the program, Obradović explained. The Official Decision on the lease of eight portable booths on the promenade in Igalo, across the street from the Youth Park, as well of the two on the Škver (English: Square) was already signed.

New Year's program in Igalo will begin on December 30 with the performance of Split pop singer Jelena Rozga. The stage will then be taken over by the band Light under the black mountain. The citizens of Herceg Novi and tourists will enter the new 2019 with the sounds of the rock band Riblja čorba. The program on Monday, January 1, will begin with the band Toć, and the midnight is reserved for the performance of the biggest Montenegrin music star, Sergej Ćetković.

28 December 2018 - On December 28, Minister of Culture of Montenegro, Aleksandar Bogdanović, and the President of the Municipality of Danilovgrad, Zorica Kovačevć, signed the Financing Agreement for the project "Adaptation of interiors and the repair of the facade of the Native Museum in Danilovgrad." This Financing Agreement represents a continuation of the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation signed in March 2018. 

After the signing of the Agreement, Minister Bogdanović reminded that the Ministry continuously implements activities that contribute to the improvement of the cultural heritage in the entire territory of Montenegro, and that in the past period they implemented and financed numerous projects in the field of protection and preservation of cultural heritage in the area of the Municipality of Danilovgrad.

The President of the Municipality of Danilovgrad emphasized that this is the first adaptation and reconstruction of the building after a long period and that she hopes that all of Montenegro, and not only Danilovgrad, will get another significant museum that will contribute to the development of cultural tourism potentials. After the reconstruction of the Native Museum, a Contemporary permanent setting will also be installed.

It was concluded that the successful cooperation between the Ministry and Danilovgrad Municipality would be continued in the following period, as well as that many other projects will be implemented, all with the goal that the citizens of Danilovgrad and tourists have as much quality and diverse cultural contents as possible.

The Ministry of Culture has committed 130.000 EUR for the realization of the project, of which 75.000 thousand EUR is provided this year. The municipality of Danilovgrad will repair the facade of the Native Museum and adapt the interior of the museum. The deadline for the implementation of the Project is December 2019.

Native Museum was opened in 1960 and situated in the former house of Prince Nikola, which is mentioned in his correspondence with Russian diplomat Prince Gorčakovski from 1873. In that building, situated in the south part of the town, there was also the first teacher-training school in Montenegro, and from 1973 to 1979 high school ‘Petar I Petrović Njegoš’, too. After the earthquake in 1979, there is a permanent museum exhibition.

28 December 2018 - Tivat Airport’s new departure terminal with 1,300 square metres, that provides more comfort for passengers who can now enjoy bigger, better facilities and easier transition from airside to landside, was officially opened on Monday, December 24. With high-quality infrastructure and contemporary design, the terminal is expected to boost tourism and economic growth of Montenegro.

The newly built Terminal 2 of the Tivat Airport was opened by Prime Minister Duško Marković, who stated that this investment represents the much needed response to the airport infrastructure congestion, which is a consequence of intensive tourist growth and the increase in the number of passengers arriving in Montenegro.

As announced from the Government's Public Relations Service, the management of Airports of Montenegro has made a proposition to the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Government to build additional facilities in Tivat and Podgorica, which can provide more comfort for passengers and functionality to airport services, especially during the tourist season. According to Marković, the Government accepted this proposal and about 3,5 million EUR was invested in this facility.

"In the following period, with the consent of the Government, the Airports of Montenegro should allocate another 2 million EUR for the new facility that will be built in Podgorica. The quality of the constructed building that we are witnessing today has already set certain standards for other companies that manage resources and infrastructure in the public interest in Montenegro," said Marković.

Terminal 2 at Tivat Airport covers 1.300 square metres, and it includes six check-in counters, two new lines for security screening as well as offices for representatives of airline companies. New capacities and improved conditions at Tivat Airport were the key points of the final agreement with the most important European company, the seventh on the world level, which will connect Montenegro with Frankfurt and Munich from April, Lufthansa.

The new facility of the departure terminal of the Tivat Airport was built in less than three months and was constructed by the Podgorica-based company “Fidija”. The value of the new facility with its equipment is about 2,2 million EUR. The new terminal was built on the northwest side of the current airport terminal building, and it was financed entirely by Airports of Montenegro.

December 28, 2018 - President Milo Djukanovic presented the humanitarian medal to Konstantina Maraš from Niksic, who donated her kidney to his fellow citizen Ilija Bulajic.

As announced from Djukanovic's office, he said that he was extremely pleased to give her more than a meritorious acknowledgment for a brave, human and humanitarian act, once again affirming the humankind in Montenegro and a solid attitude towards people who need help.

"Such examples confirm that the notion of humanity has not only remained in history but has been living in Montenegro today," Djukanovic pointed out. He emphasized that he is particularly happy that, in the time of alienation and fast life, there are noble people who understand the needs of others and, unselfishly, help solve their problems or reduce them.

By recognizing Konstantina Maras, the state gives recognition and respect for a brave act and sends a message to everyone that we do not have the right to selfishness, but that we have to help people overcome their injuries," the president said. 

The distinguished citizen from Nikšić thanked the President, saying that this recognition would be an incentive for further humanitarian work.

"Maras pointed out that such gestures are recognized even worldwide as a special value of Montenegro, a small country with a big heart," the statement said.

Today's award is another example of the human and humanitarian act, after a recent recognition, also to the citizen from Niksic Tatjana Vukićević, who donated a kidney to his young neighbor Nikola Mijuskovic.

Text by CdM, on December 27th, 2018, read more at CdM

December 28, 2018 - The priority and wishes of the Cetinje capital is the creation of new jobs, employment, and retention of young people, as well as creating the conditions for employees to take care of their housing, in cooperation with trade unions, institutions, and enterprises, said Aleksandar Kašćelan, Mayor of Cetinje, at the session of the Municipal Trade Union Committee.

As announced from the Capital, at the session, attended by the Secretary General of the Union of Trade Unions of Montenegro, Dusko Zarubica, it was estimated that the cooperation of local government and trade unions and social dialogue in Cetinje is at a high level and that they can serve others as an example. 

"Kascelan said that it is essential to create conditions for staying and employing young people, but also for workers who, due to rationalization or for some other reason, will be left unemployed. For such a thing, he said, the great opportunity is the area of the former Obod, which has been bought, but also the construction of housing facilities, not only for employees in enterprises that have large trade union organizations, but for smaller companies," the statement said. He also said that the reconstruction of the old Children's Hospital entered the annual development plan of the Capital City and that 300 thousand euros were foreseen for this purpose. 

"It is an important project for health care and the provision of a new set of health services for the citizens of Cetinje, but also for the citizens of the coastal and municipalities from the central part of the country who recognize the hospital "Danilo I" as a reference and their institution," the statement added.

The Mayor pointed out that tax discipline is significant for the functioning of Cetinje, but also for all the companies whose foundation took place here.

"This is particularly referred to taxes and contributions on earnings, which must be paid regularly because otherwise, they will not be able to pay the salaries. A special effort must also be made to servicing of the obligations from the previous period on this basis," Kascelan emphasized.

Text by CdM, on December 27th, 2018, read more at CdM

December 28, 2018 - The current economic situation recognizes entrepreneurship as one of the bases for solving the unemployment issue in Montenegro, and the project "Acquiring knowledge and skills in the field of career consulting, as a condition for launching an entrepreneurial idea" was an incentive for young people to realize their business ideas, it was assessed at a press conference by the Public Policy Center, which implemented the project with the financial support of the Ministry of Sports.

The Program Coordinator of the Center for Public Policy Srđan Čabrilo said that entrepreneurship of young people could significantly influence the overall economic development in Montenegro.

"Through the implementation of the project, the Center for Public Policy tried to contribute to further and additional promotion of the idea of youth entrepreneurship, but also to encourage the target group to launch entrepreneurial projects and ideas," said Čabrilo.

He said that this NGO created a publication, in cooperation with young entrepreneurs, whose stories should be an inspiration to other entrepreneurs.

"In the publication, we presented their successful business stories, through interviews about the beginnings, challenges they faced, family and society support, and plans for the next period. The publication is one of the key results of the project and aims to give all young people insight that with hard work and effort, every idea can be achieved," said Čabrilo.

He said that the young people involved in the project were proactive and motivated to participate in social and economic processes.

Advisor at the Youth Directorate in the Ministry of Sports, Andrea Popović, said that one of the priorities of the Youth Strategy and the Action Plan for 2018 was the economic and social security of young people.

"The Ministry of Sport encourages youth employment through the implementation of various measures and activities from the Action Plan for this year. By realizing the measures and activities from the Action Plan for 2019, and in cooperation with institutions and organizations, we will succeed in improving the position of youth in this area," said Popovic.

According to her, the adoption of the Action Plan for the next year and the adoption of the new Law on Youth will contribute to the improvement of youth support, as well as the establishment of new youth clubs and centers throughout Montenegro.

"Not only will we open them, but we will also strengthen the functioning of these, so that young people have the right address for conducting their informal activities, and therefore also to learn something useful," said Popovic.

She reminded that this department supported 89 projects this year, of which 17 related to entrepreneurship and youth employment.

Text by PR Center, on December 27th, 2018, read more at CdM