December 1, 2019 - Delegates of the eighth DPS Congress held today in Podgorica re-elected Mr Milo Đukanović as the party leader, while Mr Duško Marković was re-elected as a deputy leader of the party. There were 598 delegates who took part in the work of the Congress, and after all the votes were counted, it was noted that two votes concerning Mr Đukanović were invalid, and as for Mr Marković, two were invalid and two against his election for the function of the party’s vice-president.

“We have fulfilled all the promises made at the previous congress. We have managed to preserve Montenegro’s stability, to join NATO and move towards the EU, which are important steps in the area of economic and democratic development,” President Đukanović said after his re-election.

According to him, the DPS is steadily moving towards the Europeanization and emancipation of the Montenegrin society, and it creates conditions for a quality life of citizens.

“Over the last four years, the DPS has more or less won all the electoral victories. The party is in power in 17 municipalities. There is no room for being relaxed. We have a long-term mission. There are challenges regarding further economic development because in that way it’s possible to solve numerous social problems,” he was adamant.

Mr Đukanović and Mr Marković were the only candidates running for these posts.

In addition, the Congress elected the Main Committee comprising 146 members, the Statutory Commission, the Supervisory Board and adopted the party’s Political Program.

Text by CDM on November 30, 2019, read more here. 

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November 30, 2019 - State Secretary in the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Mr Damir Davidović, welcomed Mexican ambassador to Montenegro, Mr Marco Antonio Garcia Blanco to discuss improving the cooperation between the two states.

Mr Garcia Blanco hailed Montenegro’s achievements in tourism and pointed out that Montenegro and Mexico could establish high-quality strategic cooperation and exchange in the domain of tourism.

Ambassador acquainted Mr Davidović with the “Tianguois Turistico” trade fair which is taking place in March of 2020 and he said Montenegro’s presentation was very welcome. Mexican tourists see our country and as very exotic and attractive destination and are very interested in it.

Mr Davidović acquainted ambassador with the activities which are underway in Montenegro, and with current policies and goals in the area of tourism. He said that cooperation with the South American market would have positive effects on Montenegro’s overall development.

“Tianguis Turistico” is the most important event in the tourism sector in Mexico. It gathers entrepreneurs, hoteliers, tourism agents, tour operators and specialized media of tourism economy from over 80 countries in the world. It is seen as a professional, dynamic and highly productive international event that provides interaction of interested parties. It will be held in 2020, in Yucatán.

Text by CDM on November 29, 2019, read more here.

To read more about travel in Montenegro, follow TMN's dedicated page.

Just before the coldest period of the year, twenty new homes, already in use, arrived in the Herceg Novi Asylum for Abandoned Dogs. Shelters at Dizdarica were provided by the Municipality of Herceg Novi, which, together with the company “Cistoca” and volunteers, is working to improve the conditions for dog care in this facility.

The dog houses were necessary and important, and how much they contributed to improving the treatment of animals, assured today the Mayor of Herceg Novi, Stevan Katic, who visited the Asylum with his associates. He expressed his satisfaction with the way in which the business of procuring, assembling and installing the houses was realized, as well as the functioning of the Asylum.

Cooperation between local government and “Cistoca” with volunteers is a good way to identify needs and continue to improve conditions in the Asylum, Katic said. As he pointed out, the local government also included in the draft Budget for 2020 the funds for the work of Asylum, recognizing that this facility is a need of the city and that it is important to provide good conditions for the care of abandoned animals.

He thanked the citizens who adopted the dogs, as well as those who significantly assisted with their donations. He invited everyone who wanted a pet to visit the Asylum and find a new friend.

Visit to the Asylum for dogs

Director of the company “Cistoca” Vladimir Arsic emphasized that the houses are very appropriate, especially before the winter. According to him, the value of this purchase is about three thousand euros, and after that came the sand that will cover the area for the movement of dogs. At present, 84 dogs are housed in the Asylum, with five employees collecting, housing and caring for animals.

Arsic points out that asylum costs are quite substantial, amounting to between five and six thousand euros a month. It functions thanks to the assistance of citizens, individuals and businesses, Arsic says, and thanks in particular to the company “Vodovod i kanalizacija” (Water supply and Sewage) and anonymous donors for the larger amount of food they donate during the month.

The director adds that another expense is the reimbursement for the use of the facility, worth 222 euros a month, which is paid by “Cistoca” to the Ministry of Defense as the owner of the space. He added that significant funds were invested in the renovation of these premises, for which the Ministry failed to obtain a refund.

Five registered volunteers work at the asylum. One of them, volunteer Jasna Cavic, said that they were trying to secure various donations in food and equipment, but also to promote the adoption of dogs. She believes that procedures for asylum visits need to be facilitated and that volunteerism in Herceg Novi should be at a higher level.

Text by Boka News, on November 28th, 2019, read more at Boka News

The Tourism Organization Tivat informs the public that five New Year's bazaars will be held as part of the Tivat Winter Fairytale 2020 project.

These bazaars will be organized by the NGO “Harlekin” every Sunday of the month at Riva Pine starting at 11 am.

The first in a row will take place as early as Sunday, December 1, with the next ones coming on December 8, 15, 22 and 28. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a rich selection of handmade souvenirs, decorations, and various themed handicrafts, which will be found on the ornate stands along the Pine promenade.

Come and be part of the Winter Tale in Tivat.

Text by Boka News, on November 29th, 2019, read more at Boka News

Minister of Transport and Maritime Affairs Osman Nurković, who is in London for a regular session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), met with IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.

Following a presentation on the maritime situation and the challenges that this area presents for Montenegro, Minister Nurković made a request of the Secretary-General for assistance, particularly in facilitating training, adopting regulations, adopting protocols and overcoming gaps and challenges which were identified by IMO representatives following a recent control audit of Montenegro, an IMO Member State.

The Secretary-General of IMO praised Montenegro’s efforts to reach the highest international standards and pledged to provide both technical and administrative assistance.

Minister Nurković praised the work of the team from the IMO Member State Audit Scheme that had recently visited Montenegro and had highlighted specific issues that needed to be addressed in order to achieve the highest international maritime standards.

Such high-level meetings in this area bear witness to the fact that Montenegro is recognised as a serious maritime nation striving to achieve the highest international standards.

The project for the construction of the new town of Lustica Bay is the winner of the renowned award "Resort project of the year", as decided by the jury of the Fifth Annual International Real Estate Forum in Eastern Europe, held in Kyiv, Ukraine.

It is an event that brings together the Eastern European business community and corporate customers operating throughout Europe, Asia and Russia each year under one roof.

Planning and development of Lustica Bay as a new sustainable tourist-residential destination, high investment value estimated at €1.1 billion, integration into the environment, and high standards in construction, management and service, made the Lustica Bay project.

The award ceremony highlighted Montenegro as the fastest growing tourist destination with great real estate investment potential, with particular emphasis on the Lustica Bay project. There was a lot of interest in economic citizenship and investment through this project, said Slavica Milic, Marketing Manager at Lustica Development.

Addressing the guests at the gala ceremony, Milic recalled that the award comes after a full year since the iconic marina resort and Chedi Hotel - the first of seven planned hotels in Lustica Bay - opened last year and marked the beginning of the city's operational life.

The forum organizers are URE Club as a professional real estate organization, and EuropaProperty.com - a prestigious real estate promotion platform.

This award is the jubilee one, the 10th award that has been awarded to Lustica Bay since the project began.

Lustica Bay received the European Property Award as the best residential project in November, and the company was also recognized for being the best website in the category of development projects in Europe. At the beginning of the year, the project received the “European Property Award for Best Residential Development for Montenegro” as the best residential development project.

Text by Dragan Popadic, on November 27th, 2019, read more at Radio Tivat

The number of victims of the powerful earthquake that hit Albania yesterday has reached 25.

Authorities said four more were confirmed early this morning, with more than 600 injured in the earthquake that struck Durres and the surrounding area.

Citizens in Durres sleep in tents and cars and at a football stadium while the accompanying concussions continue.

A day of mourning was declared in Albania. Flags at all institutions will be lowered to half the spear.

Residents sleep outside (Photo: Beta-AP)

On the territory of Durres, Albania, 120 kilometers from Podgorica, the first and strongest earthquake was recorded yesterday early in the morning (just before 4.00 am). The material damage is enormous.

The Albanian Geological Institute said earlier this afternoon that 253 seismic activities had been recorded in Albania since the initial earthquake.

AFP news agency

✔@AFP

VIDEO: People search through the rubble of a collapsed building in the town of Thumane, northwest of #Albania's capital Tirana, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the area

Help arrives

Ten countries in Europe and the region are ready to assist Albania in the aftermath of the earthquake series this morning, with 52 emergency personnel from Romania and 40 members of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) arriving in Tirana.

Albanian Prime Minister Eddie Rama has announced that assistance is coming from Italy, Greece, France, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo.

RTS reports that the Greek Air Force's C-130 "Hercules" transport aircraft has landed at Rinas Airport, and that Greek rescuers are the first foreign crew to arrive in aid of Albanians affected by the earthquake.

Albania's Java News portal reported that a plane with 52 members of Romania's special emergency units arrived in Tirana to help Albania repair the aftermath.

The KSF commander, Rahman Rama, confirmed that his troops are already in Albania to help eliminate the consequences of the earthquake.

Rama said that the KSF was ready to send an additional number of members if needed.

According to him, members of the KSF search and rescue unit, 40 of them, are specialized and well equipped to search under the ruins.

Text by Vijesti online and BETA Agency, on November 27th, 2019, read more at Vijesti