In the veterinary clinics of Montenegro, after several delays, the identification and registration of dogs began, with chipping and the vaccination of dogs against rabies.

Chipping and issuing passports for dogs, which was organized for the first time in Montenegro, began on World Rabies Day - September 28, which is celebrated around the world to remind of the importance of measures to eradicate this dangerous a contagious disease that is mostly transmitted to humans with the bite of dogs.

Chipping dogs has been announced several times for the summer of this year. However, due to delays in public procurement, this had not happened.

The Food, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs Directorates have announced that the owners will pay two euros for a tagged and vaccinated dog.

"The identification and registration of dogs, as previously decided, will be implemented through the Agrobudget Funded Compulsory Animal Health Measures Program."

Identification and registration of dogs(Photo: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)

They stated that, thanks to the activities carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Food Safety Authority, with the support of the EU project, on prevention through oral vaccination of foxes and vaccination of dogs in shelters for abandoned animals, no cases of rabies in Montenegro have been reported since In 2012, neither in domestic nor in wild animals.

The official start of the dog chipping campaign was marked at the Veterinary Clinic “Animavet” in Podgorica, in the presence of representatives of the Directorate for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs, who in the previous period worked intensively on establishing a system for identifying and registering dogs.

The official launch of the action (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development)

The Director of the Management Board, Vesna Dakovic, emphasized the high expectation of this action, first of all, in the monitoring of the health status of the marked animals, as well as ensuring a higher level of responsibility of the animal owners, which will now be recognized. Dog tagging and rabies vaccination, she said, will contribute to protecting animals from rabies and, consequently, protecting human health.

Chipping dogs will be important for improving the health and well-being of dogs and will contribute to addressing many increasing challenges to the dog population, from irresponsible ownership, inhumane treatment of dogs, dog bites, but also addressing problems with stray dogs. "

Text by Borko Zdero, on September 28th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

A three-member delegation of the non-governmental organization (NGO) "Alpha Center" from Niksic participated in the conference "Regional Cooperation and Long-term Development" held in the Romanian city of Arad. The conference brought together experts and students from the fields of tourism, media, economics, design, and gastronomy, who analyzed the potentials in these fields and exchanged experiences.

"The tourism potential of Arad County was analyzed and the most optimal and creative solutions were proposed to promote and develop the most diverse offer, and participants from the countries of the region presented concrete examples of good practice and identified potential barriers that may arise during the implementation of various projects," said the program manager at the Alpha Center, Radoje Mijuskovic.

NGO representatives from Niksic presented the successfully realized project "From Niksic with Love", which was also promoted in the region, Sarajevo and Mostar.

The idea was born to organize similar promotion in several Romanian cities, and in the same way to promote their tourist, cultural and gastronomic offer in Montenegro," said Mijuskovic, adding that the conference was a good opportunity to establish cooperation with both organizations from Romania and countries in the region.

The conference, which lasted for four days, was organized by the NGO Center for Balkan Strategies, whose headquarters are in Cluj.

"The idea is to create a pilot project that would be implemented in the region, about finding solutions and new ways to develop the local community. During these four days, we got to know each other about the situation in our countries when it comes to the development of tourism, economy, infrastructure, so that young people get new job opportunities and stay in their own countries," said Florian Groza, president of the "Center for Balkan Strategies", as said by the "Alpha Center”.

Representatives of the countries participating in the conference, from Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Romania, had the opportunity to speak with the President of the Arad County Chamber of Commerce, the representatives of the communes of Gyor and Shiri, as well as with the rector and officials from the University of Arad.

The participants of the conference had the opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural and historical sights of Romania, their gastronomy, as well as to attend the presentation of medieval weapons and to participate in the simulation of combat using these weapons.

Text by Svetlana Mandic, on September 28th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Due to the construction of the park near St. Petar Cetinjski Square in Podgorica, parking at that location will cease to operate.

According to the Parking Service, current users of that parking lot will still be able to use alternative parking spaces in that part of the city, primarily the new parking lot in the area of the former small market, as well as zone parking spaces.

Recall, the University of Montenegro announced earlier that, as the contract with the Parking Service expired, the associated parcel of about 4,000 square meters in front of the Rectorate building will lead to its original purpose - the establishment of green space, in accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors.

"By enhancing the university campus, that is, by expanding and enriching the "green oases" in urban areas, we promote socially responsible behavior towards future generations, raise the level of environmental awareness and culture and invest in a more beautiful and healthier future for Podgorica and Montenegro," said the University.

Text by CdM, on September 26th 2019, read more at CdM

For October 2, Interior Affairs Day, the Security Center (SC) Niksic, in conjunction with other organizational units of the Police Directorate, exhibited the weapons and material-technical means which are used at the town square in Niksic. The arsenal of weapons was presented by members of the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit, including equipment used by border and traffic police, followed by service dogs, equestrian police and criminal technology.

"The aim of this activity is to give citizens of Niksic, that is, all visitors, immediate insight into weapons and equipment, as well as to provide them with proper responses to those questions they ask the police officers within the scope of police work," said CB Nikšić Police Commander Darko Madjaric.

The exposed weapons attracted the attention of both the youngest citizens of Niksic and the elderly, and especially the little ones who wanted to be photographed next to members of the anti-terrorist unit and the cavalry police, as well as the motorbikes used by the traffic police.

"This does not end police activities. We will visit the Day Care Center for Children with Developmental Disabilities and, on that occasion, we will give them modest gifts, and the officials of the Security Center Niksic will participate in the voluntary blood donation action," said Madjaric.

For the youngest visitors, an educational performance was organized in the performance of the famous children's entertainer Radojica Stanković, better known as Santa Panta, as well as a traffic safety quiz.

"This activity is intended to improve communication between citizens and the police, and to raise them to a higher level," said the police commander.

Radivoje Banovic from Niksic, thinks this activity is the "right thing to do" because it brings confidence in the police.

"This should be one step more towards gaining confidence and events like this need to be organized more. We need to get closer to the people. I see that there are new rifles and new equipment here, but I think my old weapon is unsurpassed and that it is of the right quality," Banovic said.

In contrast, Ivan Kosmos from Split, whose sister married in Niksic, was particularly attracted by the new technology.

"I've worked as a diver for a whole century, so that's why I've been interested in this. I'm retired now. We have events like this on the occasion of Police Day. This means to the citizens that they get a little closer to the police, especially when they see modern, technically sophisticated equipment, modern technology. It is interesting for the average person to have a look and he is pleased to see that the police is following modern trends and going forward, ”Kosmos said.

The Open Doors Day will be organized on October 2^nd, in the premises of the Security Center Niksic again this year, as it was the case with the previous ones.

Text by Svetlana Mandic, on September 25th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Podgorica will be connected with Dublin twice a week by Ireland's low-cost carrier Ryanair. The line will operate from March.

CdM reports that the exact flight schedule will be known at the end of the summer season, at the end of October this year.

Montenegrin citizens can now book trips to Dublin by the end of October next year at the lowest prices on flights with, as they point out, the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per passenger.

"To commemorate the introduction of the new line, we decided to offer tickets until midnight on Friday at a promotional price of €14.99 for these and all flights within the European network starting in November this year," said Olga Pavlonka from Ryanair.

Text by Boka News, on September 26th 2019, read more at Boka News

The Public Company for the Management of the Marine Property has announced a tender for the development of a design concept, the main design, and environmental impact assessment for the so-called Novosadska beach in Igalo. The value of the tender is 25 thousand euros.

The project envisages the reconstruction of the concrete beach, which has been damaged and in some places destroyed by constant use. The total area of the current beach is 2,500m2.

According to the documentation, the design and reconstruction of the beach should be well-thought-out, in such a way as to preserve the local authenticity of the space and ambient heritage of the area. It should also take into account modern trends and needs of locals and tourists, considering the various visions and needs that may arise in the future.

Any analysis of the current status will have to take into account the fact that reconstruction and renovation of part of the Pet Danica Walkway has already been completed and that reconstruction and renovation of the beach for this stage should be seen as an integral continuation of the arrangements in the broader area. At the same time, public-private partnership plans to expand the existing sandy beach and build a larger jetty for mooring boats at the eastern end, starting from the “Dominicana” towards “Rafaello” beach, should also be borne in mind, documentation states.

The deadline for submission of the design concept is 50 calendar days from the conclusion of the contract, with the deadline for submission of the main project being 60 calendar days from the approval of the preliminary design, given by the chief city architect. The offer will be valid for 90 days from the public opening of bids.

Bids can be submitted on weekdays from 9 am to 3 . pm, ending 1st November at 10 am.

The decision on the selection of the best bid will be made 40 days from the public opening of bids.

Source: radiojadran.com

The pedestrian foothpath at Virpazar, which facilitates and enables a safer crossing of the highway and railroad at Podgorica - Bar, is open today to all visitors and residents, according to the National Parks of Montenegro (NPMN).

"NPMN estimates that around 100,000 visitors have passed through this crossing during the season, and that this number will increase from year to year," the statement said.

Pedestrian foothpath in Virpazar (Photo: NPMN)

NPMN director Elvir Klica said the track was designed to be as comfortable as possible and follow the stone embankment line, extending below the thoroughfare and railroad to a temporary parking space.

"It is important for security reasons, because now visitors and residents of this place will be able to cross the highway and the intersection safely, and I am sure that it will enable a better valorization of the area," Klica said.

He added that NPMN would continue to renovate the tourism infrastructure.

Pedestrian foothpath in Virpazar (Photo: NPMN)

"At the beginning of the season, we arranged a fishing trail at Tanki rt, set up a recreational furnishing and information boards. We are planning the same on this footpath, so information boards and signposts will be installed in the coming period," Klica added.

Klica announced that in the coming period, he would work with the competent ministry and institutions on the construction of the marina, and it is planned to build a roundabout at the entrance to Virpazar, in order to solve the long-term problem of safety of the visitors and residents.

"Also, one of the problems with this place is the parking space. The NPMN will envisage for the next season two new sites for this purpose on the right side of the highway Podgorica - Bar, as well as one temporary parking lot in Virpazar itself," Klica explained.

Text by MINA News, on September 24th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Eco Team believes that Montenegro, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, must make additional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and follow the ambitious goals of other European Union (EU) countries that have shown the willingness to take concrete actions for combating accelerated human-caused climate change.

That is why the plans for reconstruction and extension of the existing Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant for at least 20 years requires great caution, as said by this NGO.

"A few days ago, the Prime Minister of Montenegro announced the news of the Government's resignation from the construction of the second block of the thermal power plant in Pljevlja. Although the government's commitment to the environment was initially cited as the reason for such a decision despite the numerous economic benefits that the investment could bring, a day later it was announced that, in fact, the real reason is the international financial institutions' attitude towards such projects, as well as the inability to adhere to strict European directives on industrial emissions," said the statement from Eco Team signed by Diana Milev Cavor.

She believes that the skepticism about the expectation that existing thermal power plants will be able to meet all environmental standards and comply with the permitted emissions is justified, if this could not be achieved by the construction of a new power plant.

"This is just one more of several reasons why there is a fear that the plan for the reconstruction of the thermal power plant will not be implemented as intended," states Milev Čavor.

She believes that Montenegro, following the EU countries, must set a date for the abandonment of coal-produced electricity and set that deadline with the National Climate and Energy Plan, with which Montenegro has already begun.

She recalls that 13 EU countries have done the same so far.

"At the United Nations Climate Action Summit, governments and private sector leaders expressed their readiness to tackle climate change and said the pace of climate action must be accelerated, that more concrete plans and greater ambitions are needed. According to the UN, the world will have to increase its efforts three to five times to keep climate change at a level that science has defined as acceptable, which implies a temperature rise of up to 1.5°C, to avoid the effects of those changes already visible around the world. Science shows that the phasing out of coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, is essential to achieving that goal. Preliminary analyses have provided a global date for phasing out in 2050. New research on what it takes to meet the Paris Agreement of 1.5 ° C shows that governments now need to move that date back a decade, and developed countries have to phase out coal faster than the rest of the world – until 2030," points out Milev Čavor.

She also said that investments in coal, i.e., new thermal power plants, have fallen by 75 percent since 2015, but canceling new projects is no longer sufficient.

"Governments must increase their NDCs (intended national contributions in emission decrease) by 2020, as set out in the Paris Agreement," states Milev Čavor.

Text by Goran Malidzan, on September 25th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

The Ministry of Defense has signed a nearly €110,000 contract to train pilots to operate “Bell” helicopters.

The tender documentation required initial pilot training on the “Bell 412” helicopter for six pilots, which included a minimum of 36 hours of theory applied per pilot and six hours of flight on a helicopter as well as a minimum of six hours of simulator flight.

It also required periodic training for four pilots on the “Bell 412” flight simulator for at least four hours.

Last year, the ministry signed a EUR 30 million contract, i.e., a loan arrangement for the trade of three multipurpose “Bell” helicopters, two of which are new.

The tender for the training of pilots received the offer of a consortium consisting of the Spanish "Pegasus aviation" and the Montenegrin "Li commerce".

Pilot training on helicopters and simulators will be conducted by Spanish instructors.

Text by Milos Rudovic, on September 25th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

25 September 2019 - The citizens, economy and the Government in Montenegro owed more than 3 billion EUR to the banks on the grounds of different types of loans, shows the latest data of the Central Bank of Montenegro, reports CdM.

Domestic and foreign citizens owe 1,315 billion EUR but have 1,787 billion EUR in their accounts. At the end of August this year, financial institutions in Montenegro arranged a total of 3,033 billion EUR of loans for population, economy and the Government. Citizens of Montenegro owed 1,303 billion EUR.

Montenegrin companies had loans worth more than 1 billion EUR, whereas foreign financial firms owed 347,5 million EUR. Domestic financial institutions had 25 million EUR of loan debt and NGOs had 8,8 million EUR of debt.

Local and state governments, funds and state-owned companies had loans with a total value of 230 million EUR. This way, the Government owes 151,5 million EUR. Local administrations - 41,5 million EUR, funds - 1,5 million EUR and state companies owe 35,5 million EUR.

Average interest rates on all loans were 3,08% in August. Interest rates for Government and its institutions were held at the lowest range. Citizens still pay most to the banks – interest rates amounted to 7,63% at annual level.

For cash loans, banks were reimbursed with 8,49% of total funds at annual level. They earned most from education loans.

On the last day of August, there was a total of 3,535 billion EUR deposited in Montenegrin banks. Around 1,289 billion EUR belongs to Montenegrin citizens. Banks and similar institutions have 34,4 million EUR, and companies have 888,2 million EUR and non-profit organizations have 59,2 million EUR. The government entrusted 180,4 million EUR, local administrations – 70,2 million EUR, funds – 5,97 million EUR and state companies – 246,8 million EUR.

As far as deposited funds of foreigners are concerned, the financial sector keeps 8,7 million EUR in the accounts of Montenegrin banks. Other foreign companies have 25,9 million EUR, non-profit organizations have 3,1 million EUR and foreigners have 497,9 million EUR.

The average passive interest rate applied to keep money in banks amounted to 0,43% at the end of August. That means that companies could have earned 0,29% of the total amount annually, whereas the population could have had 0,58% of the amount.

Deposits interest rates are still at 0,02% at annual level. Lowest interest rates are demand deposits and one-year deposit interest rates (0,01% and 0,03% respectively).

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