October 31, 2019 - "Radio Tivat is a media in which I have learned everything I know about journalism," points out the longterm Radio Tivat journalist, Zeljko Komnenovic, who has recently served as acting director of the public broadcaster Radio Television Herceg Novi.

After more than two and a half decades working at Radio Tivat, Zeljko Komnenovic talks about journalism in general, the challenges of working in the local media, but also the vision and mission he has set for himself, assuming the responsible function of managing a multimedia local public service, within which television was established only two and a half months ago.

TMN: You joined Radio Tivat as a student back in 1997. Now you are leaving after 26 years.

Zeljko Komnenovic: I came to Radio Tivat as a naked kid; I still had a graduate exam until the end of my literature studies in Niksic. I started as an associate, so I was an intern; after that a journalist, then a journalist-editor of the show. After that came numerous collaborations for various media. On the Radio, I created some of my own little empire of interviewees, friends, and topics. It's hard to leave now. But, there comes a moment in life when one tells himself that it is a time to seize the opportunity he is offered and try to do something creative. I'm not someone who is running for functions, lest anyone misunderstand me. In fact, one of my most negative traits is a lack of ambition. But in the offer to take over the management of RTV Herceg Novi, I recognized the professional challenge that is pushing me forward, the collective accepted it nicely. When I arrived, I told them that I was Zeljko Komnenovic, a journalist. I am in the position of director now, but I am and will always be a journalist first and foremost.

TMN: After a long career, you are definitely invited to comment on what it is like to be a journalist in a small environment like Tivat?

Zeljko Komnenovic: It was an interesting moment when I came up with a small cardboard box to pack up the traces of my work in radio after two and a half decades. Going from the desk I was writing at, from where I followed the events, I was chronicling some of the processes our city went through. Years go by, and circumstances change, Tivat changes, it is something completely different now. Boka has always been a place where many civilizations are summed up, but it is fascinating how much Tivat's capacity as a small town is to absorb the energy brought to it by people from outside.

I loved to write, and I loved to criticize. I find that a journalist who does not criticize does not deserve to deal with this business. Otherwise, we're a bulletin board, someone's PR. I never allowed that in my career. The people I criticized know that, because I did it in principle. I never liked and it bothered me terribly and in journalism - I never criticized someone's personality, but solely dealt with someone's act or omission. People recognized and respected it.

Tivat is a really nice place for journalism work as well. Lastly, in addition to the newsroom, we have the most beautiful office in the world, the Pine waterfront. We know exactly who will sit, who we will meet. The Radio Tivat collective was and remains small. We know each other's soul; we know each other's habits. It is a team of well-meaning people who are honest with the profession, however demanding and stressful it may be. I'm glad Tivat has skipped some charts despite all the criticism. Radio Tivat survived and showed that the objective journalism sought was not a dream. Far from achieving something ideal, but we have set criteria that everyone else can use as an example. I'm glad to be a part of that story, and I'll try to get most of it into the collective where I'm currently in a leadership position.

TMN: Two and a half decades of journalism has given you insights into all the challenges this business brings. In addition to radio and news portal, RTV Herceg Novi has established television since mid-August, a demanding and dynamic media in which errors are not allowed. In addition to being at the beginning of your managerial role, television is a new story for employees of RTV Herceg Novi. You have a serious task - to technically establish a new media and win the interest and confidence of the audience.

Zeljko Komnenovic: If I had not been for two and a half decades at a typewriter and a computer, and if I had not been familiar with all the principles of journalism, I certainly would not have dared to accept the leadership of RTV Herceg Novi. In Montenegro, everyone knows to fly an airplane, but I personally would never get into a job that I do not believe I can perform properly. I think that journalists with experience should run the media. I think they do it much more successfully than people who are lawyers or economists. There are capable people regardless of their education profile, but I think the media experience is a prerequisite for you to have a good understanding of all the challenges and nature of the job, which is necessary for you to manage successfully.

On the other hand, RTV Herceg Novi is a public service broadcaster that includes three technically completely different media - the Internet, radio and television. Radio Herceg Novi has a long tradition, and it is one of the first radio stations in Montenegro, founded immediately after Bar and Podgorica. The RTV Herceg Novi portal has been in operation for years, and television officially started operating on August 15 this year. The Council of RTV Herceg Novi accepted my idea that we should try to make something new in the media sky of Boka Kotorska and Montenegro. Herceg Novi Television is now watchable on the Extra TV and M Box platforms, and my current efforts are to make that signal available on other platforms as well. Therefore, even though we are local media, we are also automatically players in the collective media scene. It's a very dangerous game, where you can easily slip and fail. But I think our chance is worth every risk. No one has what we have here, and that is the sea and the beautiful environment we live in. Numerous televisions have better technique, more capable teams, better working conditions, more resources to work with. But, we have something they do not have - we have a unique environment and every shot from here is unique. Nice frames are what attract people. And when you add journalistic professionalism and a little love - these are the spices that will ensure the quality of every story we make.

But this kind of business is not working ad hoc. At the outset, things need to be systematically established, and that is exactly what I am currently dealing with. By sports jargon, we are working on how to move from a municipal to a regional league and a higher ranking of competitions. I will do my best to meet that goal. But our task is first and foremost to respond to the needs of the citizens of Herceg Novi, and then of the citizens of Boka Bay. I hope that at some later stage, we will also cause a viewership in the Montenegrin market. In order to achieve this, we must establish quality. In terms of local topics, I do not doubt that people will watch our program and that they will love to watch it. My goal is to broadcast live programs - sports competitions, sessions of the local parliament, concerts, and various events as often as possible. But first and foremost - I want to monitor and transmit to small screens the life that flows and drains the streets of Herceg Novi and Boka in general. Even if we partially achieve these goals, I believe we have succeeded.

TMN: After just a few days of assuming the function of acting RTV Herceg Novi executive director, you encouraged and achieved great success with the team. For the first time, a session of a local parliament from Boka, specifically a ceremonial session of the Municipal Assembly of Herceg Novi on the occasion of Municipal Day, was broadcast live.

Željko Komnenović: I have to admit that I am very happy and proud that we performed it as a collective and that with very limited resources, because at the moment we do not have the equipment that supports direct transmissions, we were able to provide a direct broadcast of the ceremonial session. People in the industry know that this is not at all simplistic, even though we are in the era of the Internet, optics, live streaming, adequate equipment is needed to ensure quality live broadcasts. We were able to do it 99 percent with the help of pure enthusiasm and my stubbornness. At the end of this direct broadcast, which was done by a small group of enthusiasts, all the editorial staff gathered - joy, excitement worked, the end of the show was marked by great applause. We realized that we had done something big and important, something for the annals - we provided the first direct TV broadcast of a local assembly session in Boka.

Apart from the fact that this venture is very important for the spirit of our team, it is also important because we have shown the citizens that we are serious and that we want to do the work entrusted to us seriously.

We will strive to provide equipment that will support our enthusiasm and ideas. What I imagined was that we, first of all, focus on the so-called live program, to try to bring the Mediterranean, Bokelian, the life of this part of Montenegro to the small screens.

The sixth-grade students of the elementary school “Braca Labudic” from Niksic were, at least briefly, traffic police officers and warned the drivers of the dangers when using cellphones while driving.

“Assistance” was provided by traffic police officers and volunteers from the non-governmental organization (NGO) “Alfa Center”, which implemented the mentioned action "When the youngest act as policemen”, together with CB Nikšić.

They distributed flyers with the message "Let it ring" (Photo: Svetlana Mandic)

The toddlers distributed leaflets with the message "Let it ring" instead of the punishment to the drivers, who used mobile phones while driving.

"With the continuation of the 'Let it Ring' campaign, we want to alert citizens of the dangers posed by the use of phones while driving, as well as to increase the caution of traffic participants and thereby raise the level of traffic culture," said the project coordinator Sara Djokovic.

During the action in Niksic (Photo: Svetlana Mandic)

She reminded us that the Alfa Center has been carrying out activities to improve the area of traffic safety since 2007.

“There are many drivers who use a cellphone while driving, thus endangering their own and lives of other traffic participants. We are all aware of how common it is on Montenegrin roads. Still, we do not recognize that this habit can lead to fatalities and that it is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents, in addition to infrastructure and vehicle malfunction," Djokovic warned.

Participants of the action (Photo: Svetlana Mandic)

Celebrities from Montenegro and the region took part in the campaign "Let it Ring", warning on this dangerous habit with a short video message.

The students who took part in the action are members of the traffic section led by Professor Ranka Bijelovic, who have shown their knowledge in practice.

"Let it Ring"(Photo: Svetlana Mandic)

"The elementary school “Braca Labudovic” is the only one in Niksic that has recognized the importance of this topic and has been concerned about the safety of its students through the lessons for many years," Djokovic said.

Today's action is part of the project “Safe Step”, supported by the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, which is aimed at educating the youngest to improve their safety in traffic.

Text by Svetlana Mandic, on October 30th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The micro-bit equipment, worth thousands of euros, was awarded to schools whose students have achieved excellent results at national and regional competitions in the use of micro-bit computers, the Ministry of Education stated.

This department said that the equipment provided by the Government was allocated to the elementary schools "Vuk Karadzic" in Berane, "Risto Ratkovic" in Bijelo Polje, "Vuko Jovovic" in Danilovgrad, "Njegos" in Cetinje, "Marko Nuculovic" in Stoj and "Radomir Mitrovic” in Berane.

At a ceremony organized on the occasion of the award of the equipment, it was stated that the goal of digitization was to understand the school material better, not to bind the children to the screen.

During the event (Photo: Ministry of Education)

State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Aleksandar Mitrovic, said that this Government's department, together with the British Council, is successfully implementing the project "Schools for the 21st Century", within which has so far distributed nearly 2.5 thousand micro-bits in 76 Montenegrin schools.

He said that it is planned to distribute a total of four thousand such computers, so that a certain number of micro-bits by 2021 will be provided in every Montenegrin elementary school.

Mitrovic emphasized that the Ministry of Education is considering a model of digitization of the education system.

Digitization, he said, does not imply the mere equipping of schools with computers, or strengthening the teaching of computer science, but the digitization of textbook content in various subjects, not in a way that the textbook is simply translated into digital form, but through animations and other digital views, to get these contents closer and better explained.

Advisor to Prime Minister Ljubo Knezevic said it was a pleasure to meet the youngest compatriots who profile their further development in the direction of innovative and creative professions.

He said that the Government had no dilemma on whether to support such a project, and that today's ceremony was only a step towards its further expansion.

Richard Everit, Regional Director of the British Council for the Education and Society Sector for Europe, pointed out that the British Council has existed and worked in the Western Balkans for 80 years. This year marks 25 years in Montenegro.

He said that much has been done in the field of education during this period, and that Montenegrin schools today are part of a large project "Schools for the 21st Century" involving six Western Balkan countries.

Everit evaluated the projects of Montenegrin students as innovative and creative.

The director of the elementary school "Njegoš", Novka Milosevic, thanked the Government for the valuable gift, assessing that the accessories and components for micro-bit computers will enhance the work of micro-bit clubs and stimulate additional creativity of students in doing the projects.

The goal of the micro-bit, as a pocket computer, is to develop critical thinking with children, through the creation of new content, or programming.

The project "Schools for the 21st Century" is part of the wider British Council's program “21st Century’s Schools”, which is worth £ 10 million, channeled by the British Government.

The project aims to have over one million students from the Western Balkan, ages 10-15, mastering critical thinking, problem-solving and coding skills.

Text by MINA News, on October 30th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Montenegrin society should pay special attention to the professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, based on international standards in this field and good comparative solutions, it was assessed at the session of the Social Council.

The Council considered the Bill on the Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities.

"The aim is to provide conditions for successful vocational rehabilitation, an increase of employment of persons with disabilities and their equal participation in the labor market, while removing barriers and creating equal opportunities," the Council explained.

It is stated that the members of the Council gave tentative approval to the text of the Bill, with the obligation that, after receiving the opinion and suggestions of the European Commission, it should be considered again at the session of the Social Council.

The Council gave a positive opinion to the Bill on Volunteering, which should create more favorable conditions for further development of volunteering in Montenegro.

The bill on volunteering adds a new concept of volunteering, as a voluntary activity in the general interest.

"Which is the most common international standard and leaves the former one that had elements of a labor-law relationship (professional training, work practice), which was certainly not classic volunteering," it was stated.

The Council agrees with the Proposal of the Decision on determining the annual number of permits for temporary stay and work of foreigners for the next year.

The members of the Council are informed about the current status of the Draft Labor Law and the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance.

"The Council from today sent a recommendation to the Government of Montenegro to adopt as soon as possible these two regulations, which are of particular importance for the employees and citizens of Montenegro and forward them to the Parliament for consideration and adoption," the statement said.

The Council supported the initiative to invite Prime Minister Dusko Markovic to the next session of the Council in order to jointly launch a dialogue on topics that are of utmost importance to both social partners and Montenegrin society.

Text by MINA News, on October 30th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

31 October 2019 - Montenegrin opera singer Ivana Čanović, who has performed side by side with world-renowned stars for years and is a promoter of classical music not only in her home country, but around the world, recently performed at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

“I am absolutely honoured to be the very first opera singer performing on the Hollywood’s Walk of Fame for the fantastic Lina Wertmüller,” shared Čanović on her Instagram profile, revealing her excitement.

This month, on October 28th, Ivana performed during the star award ceremony honouring the phenomenal Italian screenwriter and film director Lina Wertmüller, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, making history as the first opera singer to perform at this location, reports CdM.

“Absolutely the first opera singer in the history of Hollywood Walk of Fame. Thank you, my dear Mr. Pascal Vicedomini and congratulations to our Ms. Lina Wertmuller for the Star,” said Čanović after her performance, thrilled to be a part of the ceremony. 

After the performance, Ivana was awarded the Los Angeles Festival Award as a Woman Contributing to the Development of Art in the World.

“So many wonderful emotions, after the surprise, the Los Angeles Capri Festival Award I was honoured to get from Tony Petruzzi and Pascal Vicedomini, who has invited me here in Hollywood, to be part of very important events, to support and honour one and only Lina Wertmüller. Couldn’t be happier! Thank you so much,” shared Čanović on social media.

Ivana was born in Nikšić, Montenegro, where she attended Dara  Čokorilo Elementary Music School and Vasa Pavić High School of Music. Čanović then studied at the Royal Academy in London, graduated and received a master's degree from the Department of Opera Music at the prestigious Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome.

Ivana is a winner of Eurovision Classical Music organized by Classical Radio in Vienna in 2015, winner of a special award at the 2017 Opera Singers Competition, winner of the 2018 Opera Singers Competition in Spoleto, winner of the first Puccini and Cupisti Award for Best Young Voice at The 2018 Puccini Festival. She performed in China, Panama, Austria, England, Greece, Iran, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy and Portugal and even realized her dream of singing with Andrea Bocelli.

October 30, 2019 - There are numerous activities currently being undertaken by the Kotor Directorate for Planning and Development. Besides the frequent repairing, remodelling, applying and updating of road markings, removing the roots of palm trees that have been destroyed in Risan, and liming pavement in Dobrota, repairs have been undertaken to roadside walls by the Institute for Marine Biology and the open air swimming pool.

“This is only the start of the work we plan to carry out. We are listening to what people are suggesting to us, but it is up to them to maintain public areas so that funding is not spent on the same things time and again, as we are doing everything we can to ensure that the city is more beautiful for our citizens as well as a large number of tourists visiting on a daily basis,” stated Head of Kotor Directorate for Planning and Development, Zoran Mrdak.

He stated that on the walkway, five to seven-metre palms resistant to red palm weevils would be planted, and that other locations would be agreed.

A Board of Directors meeting was held on 30th, with discussions taking place on the programme of work and landscaping linked to 30 investment decisions. 

We appeal to everyone to look after and not damage the equipment provided for them. We must not forget that the fundamental characteristic of public space is that it is available to all.

30 October 2019 - It is still uncertain whether Montenegro will open negotiating Chapter 8 – Competition policy, by the end of this year. Owing to the current circumstances in the EU, and especially after the opening of membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania had been delayed, the question is: What will happen with the enlargement process?

Montenegro has made considerable progress in the accession process and is seen as the next EU member. However, there is still a lot to be done. As far as Chapter 8 is concerned, Montenegro has already done what it was asked to do. It is the EU members’ turn now.

"Considering the current situation in the EU, it would not be very appropriate to predict when the negotiations in Chapter 8 will start," pointed out Biljana Jakić, director-general of the Directorate for Internal Market and Competition in the Ministry of Economy and a negotiator in Chapter 8.

She says it is important that Montenegrin institutions have been fulfilling defined tasks responsibly and devotedly and that all initial criteria for opening a new chapter have been established.

"The European Commission has set five criteria for opening this chapter. Those criteria refer to the changes in the legislation in the area of state aid; formation of an operationally independent body which will have all the necessary competences and resources required for the full application of state aid rules; harmonization of fiscal assistance schemes- Law on Corporate Income Tax, Law on Personal Income Tax, Law on Free Zones, programs of enhancement and promotion of business zones; list of all state aid measures and establishment of the action plan for the harmonization with other assistance schemes or other equivalent measures seen as incompatible with the duties stipulated in the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The last criterion referred to the adoption of the plan on restructuring Aluminum Plant Podgorica. It is not relevant anymore since Aluminum Plant has gone bankrupt," explained Jakić.

She adds that, concerning the set criteria, a whole set of legislative and institutional reforms have been implemented, writes CdM.

"In February 2018, a new Law on State Aid Control was adopted and it included all the required elements for efficient state aid control. Through amendments to the Law on the Protection of Competition, adopted at the beginning of 2018, competences of the Agency for Protection of Competition have been extended to the area of state aid control. In addition, in the area of financial assistance schemes, the legislative framework has been harmonized with the EU legislation," stressed out Jakić.

All the activities Montenegro has undertaken in this chapter indicate its readiness and commitment to meeting the requirements of the European agenda.

"Now the ball is in the EU court. We expect those results to be recognized and validated with the opening of this last chapter in the negotiation process," concluded Jakić.

Read more news about politics in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

30 October 2019 - For the second year in a row, at the invitation of Montenegro’s Government, an elite team of American cyber experts will be working on combating malicious cyberattacks together with their Montenegrin counterparts.

As the American Embassy reported, operations of the Command of the American cyber team are part of the American efforts to counter opponents in cyberspace, through joint work with reliable partners and allies. Those defense operations also show insight into the cyber threats in the run-up to the forthcoming American and Montenegrin elections.

"Both the USA and Montenegro have benefited from our close partnership in the domain of cyber defense, which helps us protect our common values and interests," said American ambassador to Montenegro Judy Rising Reinke.

She said that working with Montenegro was a clear example of how the free world "cooperates in widening security", writes Cafe del Montenegro.

"We are looking for adequate ways and resources to protect democracy in the Western Balkans from those who would like to see this part of Europe shattered," said Montenegro’s Defense Minister Predrag Bošković.

While defending important infrastructure and resources, American and Montenegrin cyber experts investigate capabilities and means of acting against malicious cyber attacks.

Just like the US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said recently, thanks to direct cooperation with Montenegro in the field of cybersecurity, the United States of America managed to provide means of protection from the latest Russian malware.

Back in December 2018, Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro, Suzana Pribilović and UK Ambassador to Montenegro Alison Camp opened a roundtable dedicated to cybersecurity in Podgorica, sponsored by the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro and the UK Embassy, in cooperation with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).

Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

About 980 kilograms of electronic waste was collected during the 12 days of a special action aimed to collect this type of hazardous waste in Tivat. This waste was handed over to an authorized collector, the company “Hemosan” DOO from Bar.

The action was organized by "Komunalno" DOO Tivat (Utility Company), in cooperation with the Secretariat for Public Utilities, Transport and Energy Efficiency and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.

This is the second time that this action is organized in Tivat for collecting this type of waste, which is treated as hazardous waste due to its specific features. Our goal is to collect as much waste as possible such as computer equipment, batteries, monitors, televisions, printers, scanners, printers, cartridge for printers, mobile phones, chargers, computers and other similar devices," said Boris Lekic from the Utility company.

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

The company “Lustica Development” is launching a second cycle of vocational training for young people with no work experience, for apprenticeship positions, at which they would be hired in 2020.

The program will provide an opportunity for graduates of the legal, economic and tourism studies to acquire comprehensive knowledge and practical experience during the annual vocational training program, with the mentorship of the company's professional team.

 “We are pleased to invite interested young people who want to be part of creating a new integrated community in Lustica Bay to apply to be part of our annual, internship program. We are confident that with the first professional steps in Lustica Bay, they will be given a unique and professional work opportunity that will help them to better prepare themselves for the fast pace of a changing business environment," said the company's human resources manager Antonia Kelava.

Lustica Development heads the largest tourism project in Montenegro, Lustica Bay. Thus, an internship will enable young staff to proactively operate in a multi-national work environment, gain practical expertise, create work habits and build professional relationships in a reputable, international environment.

“I work in an environment that develops and motivates me, and that looks at the development of talents. I have a great opportunity for the personal and professional development of business relationships and connections. Lustica Bay is a project that is developing the whole of Montenegro in a positive direction and I am happy to be part of something so significant, ”said Jelena Visic, Assistant in the Department of Human Resources at Lustica Development.

The Lustica Bay Vocational Training Program is designed to bring young people from Montenegro, who already represent the largest percentage of employees of the company and its affiliates, into a dynamic work environment at an early stage of career growth, and shape work skills through practical, meaningful tasks, responsibilities and projects, with adequate professional training, support and guidance.

More information available at https://www.lusticabay.com/careers.

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