14 December 2018 - On Thursday, December 13, the Board of Directors of the Association of Montenegrin Banks, which consists of the directors of all banks in Montenegro, discussed the situation in the banking system in Montenegro during an official session.

Namely, the main topic of the session was the stability of the banking system of the country after the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBM) introduced the provisional administration to Atlas Bank and IBM Bank on December 7th, based on the audit process previously carried out in those banks.

The conclusion of the session of the Board of Directors was that the introduction of interim management in Atlas Bank and Invest Bank Montenegro (IBM) did not have a negative effect on the stability of the banking system, as no significant withdrawal of deposits was made.

"After analysing information of the period which includes several days after the introduction of interim administrations, the Board noted that these measures did not have a negative effect on the stability of the banking sector, as no deposit withdrawals from banks had occurred. We expect that the system will remain stable in the forthcoming period as well, "the statement said.

Association of Montenegrin Banks fully supports all decisions of the Central Bank of Montenegro in its effort to find a recovery solution for Atlas and IBM Bank as soon as possible so that the clients of both banks have as little inconvenience as possible due to the temporary blockade of funds disposal.

December 14, 2018 - Stefani Racic from Tivat, with two other people, crossed the Atlantic on a catamaran. The 24-year-old Stefani describes this unique accomplishment in a letter sent to Radio Tivat:

November 17^th, 2018 - Palma de Mallorca Saturday night, around 7 p.m..

It's raining and Pedro and I decided to go for a ride to the island to break the boredom. (A few days back, we got a job together with a couple from Israel on a 23-meter-long catamaran. The plan was to fly together to Antigua and to board the ship there, and the management paid the other crew for the delivery of the ship.)

At some point, we got a call to join the boat as soon as possible because the crew in charge of crossing was unable to do it for unknown reasons.

At first, the idea did not appeal to us, neither the captain and his wife, but in the end we agreed to fly to Las Palmas, where the ship was anchored after crossing from Mallorca.

Various thoughts passed through our heads, bad and good. None of us had ever seen that ship, let alone been on it. You are thinking why the crew abandoned the crossing - maybe something is wrong with the boat, maybe a storm was announced on TV, you see news from Tenerife where the waves are so big that it breaks the terraces of a hotel at the beach. The hardest thing for me was telling my parents I was crossing the Atlantic the following day, and I do not know when I will be able to contact them. Of course, all this sounds awful, but it still pushes you to do it, you feel the adrenaline, you think, however, it's the Atlantic crossing which some people dream of doing, it's a new and unpredictable path.

Days in silence, the only sound is the noise of the waves and the "banging" of the sails and cables. OK, we went, flew to Las Palmas and arrived there on Monday around 10 p.m., the captain waited for us on the docks and drove us to a ship that is anchored in front of the port. We meet his wife and friend whom they called with us, because he is the only one who crossed the Atlantic earlier.

In the morning we checked out, got fuel (stuffed into containers of 6L and large barrels of 150-200L), are all well secured on both sides of the ship and we departed.

Everything is OK on the first day. The next day, we noticed that the batteries are not being charged through the engine, which means that we have to use the generator to charge them, which additionally consumes the fuel. All right, what to do, not everything can be great.

A day or two after that, we begin to feel a very unpleasant smell on the boat, the black tank pump does not work, and the air from the pipe comes out between the two cabins, and we were troubled with that all the way to the Caribbean. We tried to repair, clean, wash, but it did not help.

The next thing that happened to us, there were 4 bottles of gas on the boat, because of the poor compressor we remained with only one bottle and so we had to save gas all the way and we cooked once or twice a day.

In all frenzy, not so big but enough to make you think, we enjoyed the beautiful nights of the full moon and the noise of the waves. Our night shift was from 11 pm to 4 am, but already around midnight the sky above the ocean began to be cloudy and the stars were less visible, very often at that time it rained a little bit.

After several days of not so good wind, we decided to use Code 0, although the sail was not in the best condition. We used it for perhaps 3 days until one afternoon, before sunset, when we started to pull down the sail its top broke where the lifter was passing through. The sail fell into the water, went under the ship together with all the scots and began to sink from the weight. We were going in circles for about 40 minutes with waves of perhaps 2m, somehow, we managed to get the sail out (thanks to Pedro who is strong enough to carry us all on his shoulders).

We all calmed down and decided to inspect each part of the ship to make sure something was not damaged by chance. When we turned on the engines, we noticed that water entered through the left shaft, we all panicked there, the shaft was shifted due to the pressure of the scot that the sail pulled behind before we cut it off. We were some 400 NM away from the Cape Verde Islands and decided to turn and move in that direction to take out the ship on the land, repair the shaft and take more fuel. However, when we started, the wind hit us right in the prow, and it can be very uncomfortable on the catamaran. I thought the ship would break into pieces, I was pale as snow and thought how I would survive for another 3 days in that weather.

After half an hour of sailing, no one liked how the boat was behaving and we decided not to go to Cape Verde, but we proceeded to the Caribbean.

Days passed slowly and without wind, so we managed to temporarily fix the shaft, if anything to stop the leaking of the water.

These days we saw the first whale pilots, it seemed amazing to see so great animals in the never-land. Dolphins surfed daily along the prow, dozens of dolphins. It happened that we see a bird or at least a "flying fish" that we thought was a bird.

We caught the first tuna in those days, and after a while we captured mahi-mahi fish. We would only fish if we ate the previous catch.

Somewhere in the middle of the road we opened the spinnaker, we were all under great tension and we did not want any more problems, but we had no choice, the spinnaker had to go up. The first day went well. The next day we noticed that something was wrong with the lifter, the guys climbed to the top of the mast (with 3m waves) to check what was wrong. The block through which the lifter was passing was damaged, which meant we could not use the spinnaker. The next day, we decided to use the spinnaker anyhow, but with a sail lifter code 0. It worked for a short time until the ropes began to be damaged by the excessive pressure and we had to shorten them each time after using the spinnaker.

The last 3-4 days of sailing the sky was clear, I never saw so many stars in my life, we would lie on the stern and watch. The same as the plankton that illuminated the path behind us. MAGICAL!!!

We saved some fuel on the road, so we have been using the engine for the last three days, and finally, after 18 days, we arrived in the beautiful Antigua, where after a long crossing we enjoyed the sandy beaches and all the magic of this tropical island before we started with further preparations for the job .

If this was the case over the Atlantic, I can only imagine how it was for sailors at the Volvo Ocean Race and how often they wondered "why do I need this in my life?" 

This is a wonderful ending of 2018 and even more beautiful start of the new one. Now a new wish list needs to be written because the previous one is fulfilled. This year I fulfilled more wishes than I expected, and for some as passing through Suez I did not hope much, but they did happen anyway. Suez, Corinth, Gibraltar, Atlantic. What's next?!

Text by Radio Tivat, on December 13th 2018, read more at CdM

"Niksic remembers its legends" is the slogan of the second Bohemian Fest.

This festival, which celebrates the legends and creators in the fields of literature, film, art, and acting begins on Friday, and its closing is scheduled for Saturday night.

As the Vice President of the Municipality of Niksic said at the press conference to announce the festival Bohemian Fest wants to preserve the memory of our prominent fellow citizens, to a number of those who contributed with their specific activities to recognize our city and after them, and in that sense "the good spirit of Niksic" was passed further.

"People were glad to come here, thanks to everything that was recognizable, where a significant trace has been left by people who, whether in the field of poetry, artistic creativity or as prominent businessmen of this city, in every sense and at any moment, contributed to the city Niksic in becoming stronger, better, and that as citizens of Niksic, everyone who comes to our city is simply seen as people who have a strong identity," she said, believing that year after year support for this festival will grow and that more and more partners will recognize it as an important story for branding our city.

On behalf of the public institution "Zahumlje", which is one of the partners of the festival this year, Goran Radojicic said that last year's fest caused enormous interest, not only for the citizens in Niksic but people who came to Niksic from other parts.

"We received comments throughout the year that the Bohemian fest in the most picturesque and detailed way describes the "good spirit of Niksic" and what Niksic actually was in decades behind us, and also what it is now and what we hope will be in the future. This year, JU "Zahumlje" wishes to, through its Bohemian Fest, together with its partners Tehnopolis and hotel Onogost, the Tourist Cluster Montenegro, the Municipality of Niksic and partners, thank all those legends who spent part or most of their lives in "Zahumlje" making part of the cultural activities of our institution or spending time in the club Zahumlje," Radojičić pointed out.

One of the programs they want to remember in a special way, as Radojicic pointed out, especially a very dear man, Milan Duga Krivokapic, is the opening program for this year's Bohemian Fest.

"This program will happen tomorrow at 6 p.m. in "Zahumlje" and we celebrate it by marking ten years since the death of Dugo Krivokapić. The young members of the “Poetics Point” Literary Club - JU "Zahumlje" wanted to make up to Milan Dugo Krivokapić and somehow remind the citizens of Niksic and the people who followed the Bohemian Fest, who came from other parts, that Milan Dugo Krivokapić 10 years after his death, is still alive through his works. We will show this in one way in which young people will talk about Dugo from their perspective, to recite verses dedicated to Dugo. We will also be able to look at the poetic film "Dodjavola" directed by Obrad Nenezić," he explained, adding that the closing of the Bohemian Fest will be in the hall" Zahumlje," and the guests will be entertained by “Pljevaljski tamburasi.”

Bohemian Fest's goal is to promote the immaterial values of our city that were created just by the lives and work of our fellow citizens, artists, legends, said the President of the Tourist Cluster Montenegro, Anja Vukicevic Zorić.

"Our goal is also to promote Niksic as a tourist destination, to attract as many visitors as possible and to make the Bohemian Festival, of course, a cultural and tourist product. I also want to say that the Bohemian Fest is something that is really different from all the other festivals that take place in Niksic, "she said.

Text by onogost.me, on December 13th, 2018, read more at CdM

December 14, 2018 - King Nikola, along with Zetski dom in Cetinje, planned to build a theater in Bar.

Based on the preserved preliminary project, which is located in the Archives and Library Department of the National Museum of Montenegro in special luxurious covers, this should have been one of the most beautiful buildings in Montenegro.

The project was made in 1911 by the Italian architect Professor Adolf Magrini, who was awarded the gold medal at the exhibition in Cetinje.

If the project of the Italian architect was realized, this theater named after the last Montenegrin monarch would probably be the most representative building in Montenegro today.

The project contains six drawings (two drawings of the foundation plan, two super-sections - transferal and longitudinal, and two are the drawings of the back side of the planned building).

The theater was conceived as a classical theater with a large theater consisting of a floor ground seating and a high seating, two floors of box loggia and a gallery. The project envisaged all the spaces needed for a serious theater. Unfortunately, the project has not been realized, but it represents a huge value by itself, and it is a confirmation that King Nikola sought to bring Montenegro closer to modern European countries.

Text by Arts Montenegro, on December 13th, 2018, read more at CdM

13 December 2018 - In Gallery "Josip Bepo Benković" in Herceg Novi on December 13th at 7 PM, 20th Anniversary of the Herceg Novi Art Scene was opened. At the exhibition, in both exhibit space, 60 works of 54 authors can be found, which include paintings, graphics, drawings, sculptures, and installations.

For the third year in the art scene, a large number of exhibitors and authors who are engaged in artistic or professional arts are involved in the art of Herceg Novi. The aim is that the Gallery becomes a place for the gathering of lovers of fine arts.

"With its concept, the art scene wants to motivate a great number of fans of fine arts-creators, to be lead by top-notch and accomplished authors, and themselves to be part of the city's artistic being. In addition to the 20th Anniversary of the Herceg Novi Art Scene, a catalog was prepared, written by the art historian Jasmina Žitnik," as announced at the opening of this event.

The Herceg Novi Art Scene will last until the beginning of February 2019 as an introduction to the 52nd Herceg Novi Winter Salon.

The art scene in Herceg Novi got full swing when it gathered not only academic artists but all people who create and live in Herceg Novi. In recent years, the exhibition has seen an upgrade, while many professional artists and those who have an artistic expression as the hobby have helped set it all up.

This number of participants is indeed an indicator of the performance of the Herceg Novi artistic scene.

13 December 2018 - Road infrastructure has never seen more investments in the history of Montenegro. Last year, around 47 million EUR was spent on roads.

“When I started serving this function, the greatest challenges for me were the motorway and the Montenegro Airlines. We have zero tolerance for the quality of works on the motorway. This is the most difficult section in Europe. The complete loop will not be constructed, only the access road. We will complete the water supply along the entire route of the motorway. Permanent electricity supply is another important segment of this project. Apart from the motorway, we are working on the remaining road network. From the north to the south,” said the Minister of Transport, Osman Nurković.

As he says, almost 95 km of roads were reconstructed in two years. Speaking of the motorway, he said that the Government was looking for the modalities for the continuation of the Bar-Boljare motorway (second section). He added that 17 projects on the railway were being implemented.

Nurković also noted Montenegro Airlines was a big challenge.

“It was just a matter of a say when it would stop working, but we are determined to help them. The company survived. If it went out of business, we would be faced with serious consequences. However, we managed to rationalize it and eliminate the unnecessary expenses. One of the options is that the Government recovers the company. The other is to privatize it. The third option is a liquidation,” said the Minister. Some decision about the future of this company will have to be rendered in the forthcoming days said Nurković.

“Current situation is such that the airports do not satisfy the needs since a huge number of passengers is interested in Montenegro. There are so many shortcomings. We must improve the situation and extend the capacities. That can be done by somebody who has money and knowledge. We gave very serious requirements that the concessionaire will have to fulfill,” said Nurković.

He expects that the Government will soon adopt the concession act and repeated that giving the Airports on concession is the most beneficial investments project for the state.

The most significant success is bringing the seamen back on the whitelist.

“Seamen were marginalized. The state has to pay much more attention to them. We have signed the agreement with Portugal, about to sign one with the Netherlands and we are planning to renew the agreement with Ukraine”, said Nurković.

Minister also said that they would not tolerate the delays in the construction of the boulevard along Donja Gorica, that is in charge of “Tehno put.”

Montenegro has recently received an additional 68.6 million EUR of non-refundable support from the EU and bilateral donors of the West Balkans Investments Framework for the implementation of four investment projects in the area of transport and the environment and the preparation of project documentation for two new projects. Read more information here.

13 December 2018 - Montenegrin ski resorts are ready to welcome all guests for the upcoming winter tourist season. Six ski resorts will be operational this winter in Montenegro - Savin Kuk and Javorovača at Durmitor, Kolašin 1450 and Kolašin 1600 in Kolašin, Vučje in Nikšić and Hajla in Rozaje.

As reported by the newspapers “Dnevne novine”, ski resorts will start working from the forthcoming weekend, except for Resort Kolašin 1600, which will open its doors to winter sports lovers just before the New Year.

According to the words of the Executive Director of the Ski Resorts of Montenegro, Miloš Popović, the prices of services at the ski centres will be at the level of last year, and the entire infrastructure will be in function as in the previous seasons.

As he explained, at the Savin kuk Ski Centre in Durmitor, which has five kilometres of ski slopes, there will be two two-seater cable cars, three ski lifts, and a children's ski lift. At the Ski Resort Kolašin 1450, which has 25 km of ski slopes, there will be two cable cars (a six-seater and a two-seater), five ski lifts and a children's ski lift.

The organisers have created the possibility to hire professional ski trainers, to rent all necessary ski equipment, and catering services will be provided at the facilities within the ski resorts (restaurants and cafes).

"The prices of ski pass will be at the last year's level. The prices for ski pass at Savin Kuk Ski Centre at Durmitor will be 12 EUR for a one-day ski pass for adults, 8 EUR for half-day ski-pass and 8 EUR for children's ski-pass. The prices at Kolašin 1450 will be 15 EUR for one-day ski-pass for adults and 11 EUR for one-day ski pass for children," said Popović.

When it comes to the structure of the guests, he pointed out that they expect guests who traditionally visit our winter centres, local guests, as well as guests from the region: from Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, as well as guests from Western and Eastern Europe.

"Ski resorts will start working at full capacity from the upcoming weekend, and the full capacity of the ski resort's infrastructure will be conditioned by snowfall, which we expect in the following period," Popović announced.

Source: RTCG

12 December 2018 - Prime Minister Duško Marković said earlier today at the Prime Minister's Questions session at the Parliament of Montenegro that the northern region of Montenegro has been less developed than the other two regions for decades, that this underdevelopment was characterised by a higher unemployment rate, lower incomes and a low rate of economic growth, but that two years of consistent economic policy measures resulted in positive developments in all of these aspects.

"Today we are witnessing new kilometres of modern roads, new ski centres, schools, kindergartens, reconstructed hospitals," said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Government's commitment to balanced regional development has been confirmed in the past two years through the funds allocated to projects in the northern region within the Capital Budget, but also within sectoral budgets, such as agribusiness or investment budgets of individual ministries.

"When it comes to the budget of the Directorate of Public Works and the Directorate of Transport for the previous two years, more than 81 million EUR were allocated to the projects in the north. Furthermore, significant funds were allocated to the Investment and Development Fund aimed at more dynamic development of less developed municipalities. In 2017 and 2018, this development fund allocated around 70 million EUR to entrepreneurship and growth of business in the municipalities of Andrijevica, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Gusinje, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Petnjica, Plav, Pljevlja, Plužine, Rozaje, Šavnik and Žabljak. These funds created 856 new jobs. In addition, projects in the north are financed through the Regional Housing Programme, the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans, the European Union's IPA funds, and the funds of the European Investment Bank," Prime Minister Duško Marković noted.

The Prime Minister stressed that he is particularly pleased with the investors' positive reactions to the development potentials of the North. "We have recently signed new long-term lease agreements based on which the high-class hotel facilities will be built at the Kolašin 1600 location and at the location of the former military resort in Žabljak. Therefore, at the end of 2017, we established a state-owned ski resort company, based in Mojkovac, in order to improve quality of the existing infrastructure, but also to implement development investment policies more efficiently. An additional impetus to our efforts is the construction of the priority section of the Bar-Boljare motorway, which will connect the northern region with the central and southern ones. The construction of the motorway will be continued with the ultimate goal of connecting with the European Highway Network. By the end of 2019, more than 500 million EUR will be invested in this project," Prime Minister Duško Marković concluded.