Lifestyle
31 July 2019 - The following article represents the personal perspective of author Gunther Fehlinger on the 12 concrete recommendations for European Montenegro and the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Total Montenegro News.
This article is the 3rd in series to contribute to better tourism and economic development by Austrian and European best practices in transport and tourism planning and pricing. For more information about the economic part, read Strategy for European Boka 2020 and for transport and mobility issues, read Smart Mobility Strategy RecommendationsRecommendations from 2018, still fully to be implemented.
This article from July 2019 discusses concrete experiences and builds simple, small budget recommendations on how to improve the 2020 tourism season. The Austrian author lives has lived in Morinj Montenegro every summer since 2006 and is an economic consultant for European transition economies.
- Meet the Montenegro border and customs!
Entering Montenegro from Bosnia, the welcome is a one hour waiting at the smallest border crossing and a warm welcome by a rough, unfriendly Montenegro border policeman working slowly and asking in bad English what I want in Montenegro. Well, a good question – most Europeans in the summertime in a car with children come for tourism, not for arms, drugs nor car smuggling! A kind smile and welcome to Montenegro would be just fine. But well maybe smiling is not part of the job description for the border police in Balkans.
- Have a green card or driving a stolen car?
Car smuggling is a good topic, must be common in the EU in 2019 as the border police ask for car papers and a green card for each car. Most cars coming from northern Montenegro are from the EU or Bosnia or Serbia - where else they should come from? I actually happened to come from Kyiv, Ukraine by car and it is the first time I was checked for papers and green cards since entering the EU at the Polish -Ukrainian border. Nobody asked me when I left Schengen in Slovenia – Croatian border nor when I entered Bosnia but when entering Montenegro, I am checked and registered and this takes time. Arriving at the border at the new small border checkpoint I chose because I had the pleasure of waiting many hours at the other bigger checkpoints to Croatia and Bosnia many times before, so I decided for this one close to Foča in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Well done, I thought when there were only 7 cars and I consider myself smart and lucky and after one hour I passed with just 7 cars in line and I doubted my choice. Sure, we must have control and simply waving summer tourists through like inside EU might not be possible, but really, is it necessary to register every car and check the green card? We in the EU have the administrative capacities to ensure that all cars are insured and in fact they are and who comes in the EU we anyhow check at our EU land border to Ukraine & Belarus and where shall the cars come from if not from the EU, Bosnia or Serbia when entering the northern checkpoints of Montenegro? And if you do not trust Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia cars for green cards well OK check them but EU registered cars? And are there so many stolen cars you find with these checks?
- End this nonsense asking for car papers and green cards!
Why not scrap these useless annoying asking for car papers and insurance have much faster border process and invest a bit more in EU standards road safety measures? One simple measure and everybody is happier to come back a second time in amazing and magic Montenegro with great people and amazing landscape but quite backward procedures introduced after the Balkan Wars when smuggling to main business in southern Balkans but are they really justified today? No. So, one simple order from Ministry of Interior to stop asking EU registered cars at the northern border check with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the summer season for car papers and green cards and well Montenegro has many more happy EU tourists. Or stop that unnecessary procedure fully for all – we are in 2019 not in 1999.
- Transit trucks in tourist coastal area during peak season?
Better border management during season includes to interdict transit during the season at the coastal border crossing and forcing them inland. Simple inform all logistic companies that no truck above 3,5 t will be allowed to cross from Croatia to Montenegro and such trucks are allowed in July and August only the main Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro border crossing close to Nikšić. Assign the customs official to that border crossing and simple stop transit above 3,5 t during the 2 crucial months for the Bay of Kotor relevant border crossings. Inform the transport industry now and assign some more customs officials to the main border crossing at the M6 close to Vilusi.
- Allow only delivery trucks with coastal destination or origin to use the Adriatic Highway during the season.
And constant traffic jams at the Adriatic Highway will be much better between Herceg Novi and Ulcinj in July and August only truck for delivery target costly supply chain and the rest inland on Nikšić – Podgorica – Shkoder and next year to the new highway north if transit is for Kosovo and beyond. And yes, to the Adriatic Highway but this I have discussed so often elsewhere, and here only about the small items with big effect – but still yes you need a big inland motorway connecting Croatia with Albania along with your main population centres of Nikšić and Podgorica. Why build the Northern Highway to nowhere first is beyond understanding, but anyhow, good, it is ready, but now for the real part the Adriatic Highway.
- More landing spots for the Ferry on each side and re-locate the Port Master House
The border and transit lead to the ferry over the Boka, the most famous bottleneck of the past has a lot of its terror since now 6 ferries are in operation and transport is swift and waiting times still considerable but no longer painful. Now the real bottleneck is the lack of landing spots for the ferries. Each side in Kamenari and Lepentane has only 3 and so the ferries have to wait in the straits until on and off loading allows for the next ferry to land. On Lepentane side there is ample space for the 4th landing spot on the Tivat side of the village and why not ask the operator to do it or share the costs with the Government as part of the concession? On the Kamenari Herceg Novi side, there is space but the obstacle is the Old Port Master house in stone blocking the space. While it may cost a bit to simple expropriate it the costs of simple re-locating it and rebuilding the house 300 m towards the Herceg Novi side on the seaside next to the Old Stone House ensemble seems reasonable compared to the traffic obstacle it poses for public safety and welfare. There is a great beach zone close to the Port now looking to Tivat and now a bit in shadow of the ferry port there are two old stone houses and a perfect spot for a small Marina for sport boats and why not re-locate the Old Port Master House there and make a nice small protected marina for small boats there on the Herceg Novi side of the Ferry Port and so upgrade the whole Verige Bay with a working nice Marina for small boats left of Kamenari and a 4th landing spot for the ferry and straighten out the street which in the most important obstacle for the bottleneck of the ferry port?
- Learn from the Austrian Alpine Village forbidding transit traffic in summer
And there to build a checkpoint and stop all transit trucks and force them on the ferry if they still made it through the border. And to ask and force all major vehicle without final destination inner Boka Bay onto the Ferry. We do the same in many Alpine villages to forbid transit in a village when there is a highway and the same principle applies to Ferry and UNESCO Inner Bay. Only source and destination traffic may pass now and later add an entry fee as outlined in Boka Bay 2020 article but for now, enforce the usage of the Ferry for all major vehicles who do not need to go there for accommodation or supply or tourism reason. If you put a policeman asking all and a table to explain the ferry makes more turnover as well and put the cost of the re-location to the Ferry operator. The Austrian Government did the same in Sarajevo with the INATI Restaurant even 150 years ago. It can be done within one winter no problem and the traffic is much faster no need for bridge or tunnel at all.
- Traffic restriction for Inner Bay of Kotor – speed limit 30 km/h all along the Bay road in season
This leads to the traffic restriction for the Inner Bay of Kotor I have called for many years now. During the season only two months access only with payment is the best option. As the Austrian Administration has built the coastal road as it is today and it was the right decision but today in main touristic usage in summer both traffic and consumers walking to the beaches of the Inner bay have to live in some cooperation which can only work if you put a price tag on the entry and so only the once with a reason of logistics to the Bay and tourism in the Bay come in and the rest either pays or uses the ferry. With a resident card, I have outlined already this is simple to administer and the effect for the Inner Bay tourism will be amazing. The Bay road is a touristic sensation in itself and not a transit truck stops nor a rally track for local youth nor a black spot for traffic accidents nor a road where slow driving tourists are an annoying domestic supply truck in beach zone as they are smoothing home while other work and drive in summer heat, stay out of Boka all who are busy it is a zone of relax! And the simplest measure is a speed limit of 30 km/h with speed reduction measures like speed bumps – sleeping policemen in all village zones, beach access meaning basically everywhere in each 200 m and so to simply enforce the speed limit with physical infrastructure and remove it outside the season if this is what you want but during the crucial 2 months put many of them all along the Inner Bay road. Soon most local drivers from Herceg Novi and Kotor avoiding the Ferry will start to use it as it will be much faster and the Inner Bay road is for tourist with leisure and time no longer afraid for their life. True there are not so many deadly accidents mainly because the road allows anyhow only slow speed so 30km/h won’t be a shock but indeed there are so many angry shouting’s, near accident, desperate breaks, closes missing of families waking to the beach and people speeding by which are not part of any traffic statistic but make sure many European families never return to Boka and are happy to survive such conditions. And it is the family fathers driving who have the budgets to pay for expensive accommodation during summer who are competing on the road for safety with the resident voters who want to use the road in summer in same hyper speed as always to drink their coffee in just another coastal town or impress their girlfriends, true these are your voters but we are you costumers are we want safer roads for our family in the 2 months of the summer! Speed bumper and speed limit 30 in the Inner Bay from 2020 onwards.
- Upper Village bypass road – build them now before all hills are full of buildings!
Well, what to do with the traffic jam from Tivat to Bar, Herceg Novi to Ulcinj? Again, the Adriatic Highway will help and again working with Croatian, Bosnia, Albanian and Kosovo road authorities and media to communicate that the inland road via Podgorica is much faster would ensure a lot of Albanian and Diaspora drivers to drive inland. But some congestion in Adriatic coastal towns might be simply unavoidable. But it really does not take an international expert to understand upper bypasses are what needs to be done like in Perast, Dobrota and Petrovac as well for Tivat, Budva, Risan and Bar. Well it might not work for all – in Kotor and Morinj it is hard to do but in Risan, Bar and Budva, Herceg Novi & Bijela it is all planned and rather simple to do. I have written about it in Smart Mobility for Montenegro One and no need to come back. I am surprised you build the access road to Cetinje first and neglect the coastal bypass for now. The longer you delay the more building up there makes the project more expensive with higher costs for land access and expropriation. Some beach shuttles and some night live shuttles to bring people from and to beaches and from and to the night life (remember – do not drink and drive !) might do wonders. Most people go to same beaches during all holiday and taking a bus is much more cost-saving than using a car in a traffic jam and paying for parking if you ever can find a parking space at the coast in summer.
- Parking with smart pricing – higher during peak season! 0,8 offseason and 2 Euro in season
This leads to parking I have discussed this as well before but back to basics - public space is for the public but the access is payable and pricing decides the access and usage. And for the massive user meaning residents and long-time tourists who needs parking a long time reduce subscription on non-discriminatory basis meaning everybody of EU or Montenegro resident can buy it and it results in cheaper access long term but all short-term single user pays for parking and pays an amount which secures there is parking reasonable accessible for short term access. Good, what does that mean concrete?
First, all coastal Municipalities have to ensure all their area is short term parking during summer. Second, all accommodation has to have the legal obligation to provide parking at their accommodation or pay a fine to municipalities. Better public transport from beaches can be financed with such revenue. So, Perast with 5 Euro a day in too cheap but for one hour too expensive. Porto Montenegro with 2 Euro per hour is about right in the Coastal Area. Morinj beach parking for 2 Euro per day is much too cheap. Any beer costs 2 Euro for a drink and parking a day for 2? No! And why pay 5 Euro if you stay only one hour? That is a bit excessive! So, what is needed is simple to increase the public parking fee from 80 Eurocents to 2 Euros in July and August in all coastal municipalities public and private parking and oblige all accommodation providers to build their own parking spaces or pay a fine to municipalities or to rent one for each apartment and yes you can do that legally we in Vienna call that Stellplatzverpflichtung google it. Parking at the accommodation should be included in the price of the accommodation and if you want to make excursions than you have to pay for the parking as part of your excursion budget and off-season return to 0,8 Euro.
- Social unfair or a major burden for citizens?
Please remember that tourism is the key to Montenegro prosperity for all citizens. It is your only major industry for foreign revenue and affects all sectors from construction material to Government to agriculture to IT, simple everything depends on the money earned by tourism, accommodation and hospitality sector. So, call on the population that they know in July and August parking is expensive and organise their life accordingly and organise public administration accordingly. Nobody shall need to go to MUP or Municipality in summer – do that during the year in the time of e-Gov! Most things can be done after the summer and keep your museums open on Mondays in the tourism season! I mean I it is a tourism country and all you recent 13 years of success is funded by tourism, land sales to tourism, construction projects due to tourism – a Podgorica city boom funded by selling the coastal property to tourism investor and consumer and without tourism where would you be? And tourism season is short in Montenegro and so do all other things during the rest of the year and focus on tourism during the 60 or 75 days there is interest and consumption and simple treat tourists as the individual they are who work hardback home to spend in your amazing country and have deserved your full respect or they move to Turkey, Greece or Tunisia or Croatia. So, a working and successful tourism sector is crucial for the welfare of pensioners and construction workers and hospital employees and please this is message to educate all population – we are not "neki turisti" but the most important lifeline of prosperity of all Montenegro so next time you meet a tourist – we are all tourists here not immigrants be friendly say hello, speak some words in English, smile at least a bit, drive carefully and do not push or bully or threaten a tourist but treat him and his family for the respect required and deserved for working hard a year to spend his and her time and money in your country. Everybody to do so is an honour and show him and her that he is welcome. And stop complaining about cruise ships, tourist just looking, high prices and overcrowding but organise your public system better to cope with the inflow and so developed from a developing country to a European Member Montenegro to which all other European are happy to bring their money and spend their time full of happy memories and not afraid of their safety and in traffic jams. And getting a prosperous tourism magnet is the only way to keep funding your pension system, your hospitably open and your welfare system running and so it is not anti-social to ask for 2 Euro per hour for parking but it is perfectly possible for poor people to take the bus during summertime or walk to the beach. And again, the hard truth the summer is for people in a summer holiday destination the main working period – it is the time everybody here should be working full time in the tourism industry and no it is not for the Montenegro youth you enjoy but to work in summer in. tourism. Ask in any Austrian Alpine ski village if the people ski in winter – if they do then as ski instructors or during some off days but during the rest of the season they are working very hard to earn for all year when their village is less in demand.
- Invest in modern parking systems – with card payments!
Amazing Porto Montenegro has not Credit Card parking payment – investing half a billion Euro but not buying the payment option for the parking system provider what is that about? We are now in the world of contactless payments by bank cards and good and apple pay and Porto Montenegro is asking everybody to park the car and pay at a parking machine in cash!
And in Tivat Airport it is the symbol for careless management of the details – there is nothing happening when no flight but when two flight arrive at about the same time - the one parking area is so full and for leaving you have to wait for 40 min each time to pay their 80 Eurocents just because there is just one booth working to allow this payment in cash to leave the parking system? Is this European Montenegro in 2019 or Yugoslavia 1989? Anywhere in the world, there is an automated parking system with Credit Cards and in Montenegro, so do you have to have people in hot boxes collecting cash?
And it takes no new concession or major strategy to open a second booth to pay for parking, just a bit of love and care for your consumer and tourists. It is the combination and accumulation of small steps with a big impact by time which turns countries in successful tourist destinations. And again, what will you be without tourism? Montenegro would be condemned to live of its agriculture and industry and both are having very little commercial prospect without a construction industry selling flats to the world and food to consumer in restaurants frequented by tourists. It took as in Austria 2 generations to get this touristic mentality going but visit Austria no matter what the weather the experience is great and we have amazing return figures of tourists coming back every year.
Stop complaining - make sure there is nobody complaining about you
Complaining about a bad season results in nothing – you need to make sure tourists find nothing to complain in standard public services. And be sure a day a beach with truck passing by, a city visit to magic Perast with no parking, a long wait at the border, or parking payment box or traffic jams whenever at the Highway lead to a One and Only visit mentality for Montenegro tourists – come once and great and we come back once you are ready later in the decade once you are in the EU and all of this will anyhow be done inside the EU. But please why not now and turn every tourist into an Ambassador for Montenegro -saying to everybody back home that Montenegro is not only magic and amazing but as well ready for European future by being positive experiences in all simple 12 steps as outlined above. And please implement them before the Adriatic Highway reaches Montenegro and will bring much more European tourists into driving range from the European population's centre in Central Europe.
This article is the 3rd in series to contribute to better tourism and economic development by Austrian and European best practices in transport and tourism planning and pricing. For more information about the economic part read Strategy for European Boka 2020 and transport and mobility issues read Smart Mobility Strategy RecommendationsRecommendations from 2018, still fully to be implemented.
Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.
The traditional Lastva Festival will be held for the 45th time on Saturday, 3rd August from 9 pm, in front of the church and Ilija Marković Cultural Centre in Gornja Lastva.
The festival is held on the first Saturday of August and always begins with a kolo dance of the Boka Navy, performed by members of the Tivat group with musical accompaniment by Tivat Music Education Society.
There will be a performance by the Next Band from Omiš, and the “Posters of the Lastva Festival” exhibition will also be opened.
Lastva Festival 2017 - Boka News
The Lastva Festival has for many years been part of the cultural calendar for locals and visitors, with the festivities continuing late into the night.
The event is co-financed by the Tivat Municipality.
Klapa Šufit will be in concert on the Tivat Summer Stage on Friday, 2nd August at 9 pm.
In autumn 1992, tucked away in the attic of the Split “Realka” High School, the young and talented music culture teacher Prof. Tomislav Veršić brought together a group of students to form what would be Klapa Šufit. Eighteen months later, the pupils successfully debuted at the Dalmatian Klapa (a cappella, multipart singing) Festival in Omiš as the youngest male klapa group in the history of the most important festival of klapa singing.
In time, Klapa Šufit left school behind and began performing on the circuit of the klapa artistic and cultural association. Led by the experienced klapa bard Duško Tambača, Klapa became a respected body of musicians, nurturing and promoting the “Split Style” of klapa singing, continuing to perform at the Dalmatian Klapa Festival in Omiš, and ranking among the top klapa performers (they received 3rd prize in the audience vote in 1999). The end of the same year saw the release of their first album “Dobro jutro more” (Good Morning, Sea). They promoted their album with a number of concerts, the biggest at the Croatian National Theatre in Split, performed in front of the cameras for national television, with the great support of the audience and of music critics.
Since 2006, the Klapa has been under the artistic direction of Jasminko Šetka. The rarely-seen synergy between music pedagogue and klapa members has produced a unique accomplishment in the history of klapa singing and competition. Klapa Šufit was the winner at the Omiš festival three years running, having won over the expert committee and the hearts and minds of the klapa public (in 2006, 2007 and 2008 they won 1st prize from the expert committee - the Golden Shield with the historic symbol of Omiš - and 1st prize in the audience vote).
Klapa Šufit has seen success both with their solo performances, in competition with other klapa and other stage artists, and at various music festivals, (The Dalmatian Song Evenings at Kaštel, the Šibenik Chanson Festival, and the Melodies of the Croatian South in Opuzen). Over the years, Klapa Šufit has had around twenty singers, many of whom are still with the group, and since 2003 has had the membership we see today. With its beginnings in the attic of a school, singing songs from back in the time of our grandfathers, Klapa has climbed to the very loftiest height of the klapa singing craft.
Tickets are on sale from 7 euros.
For information and reservations, call 069342799
Myrtill Micheller, the best Hungarian female vocalist, performed last night in Porto Montenegro with her band "Swinguistique".
"Our biggest goal is to bring the cultural values of Hungary and Hungarian artists closer to the citizens of Montenegro, because we are convinced that our two countries' bilateral relations do not consist of political and economic cooperation only, which is usually mentioned”, said Hungarian Ambassador to Montenegro József Négyesi, welcoming guests to concert.
The event was staged at pier 1 as part of the Hungarian Culture Week in Montenegro, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organized by the Hungarian Embassy in Podgorica, and also included in the program of the 18th Don Branko Days of KotorArt Music.
“We should emphasize developing relationships in other areas, among which culture is certainly in a prominent place. The "Hungarian Culture Week" will run until the end of September. Within 24 different programs in many Montenegrin cities, Hungarian musicians, dancers and many other artists will be presented,” said the ambassador. He thanked the Montenegrin partners, the city of Tivat, the KotorArt Festival and Porto Montenegro, emphasizing that without their support it would not be possible to organize the programs.
Speaking about Myrtill Micheller, the ambassador pointed out: “Despite the French pronunciation of her name, Myrtill does not come from a French family. However, her band brings to life the atmosphere of France from the last century with her songs in French and English, including the chansons by Edit Pjaf in a cheerful gypsy swing manner. Their first album of 2012 was awarded a gold record and they have since performed in front of full halls in Budapest and throughout Hungary. ”
Myrtill Micheller is a graduate of jazz singing at the Franc List Music Academy in Budapest. It gained public attention after the release of the music for the movie The Dreamcar, for which the soundtrack was hired as a singer. She made her debut album I Just Found Out About Love in 2004, with jazz standards. Today she is one of the most engaged Hungarian vocalists and has sung on more than 40 albums. She presented her latest project Swinquistique in 2013, with selected songs in French and English, arranged in jazz and swing-jazz style.
"This is dance music, dance with us," said Myrtill, addressing the audience and introducing the band members. The audience enjoyed French chansons and Hungarian and other popular songs, with some of the visitors singing and dancing with the performers in the lovely July night.
Delta City Shopping Center will start charging parking tomorrow, 40 cents per hour.
Delta City Manager Dragan Perisic said that the works on the access ramps have been completed as planned.
Protective posts and curbs have been installed, as well as islands with toll ramps. Self-charging stations are set up at the property at all checkpoints/exits which will ensure easy operation and movement of vehicles through the parking space. Shopping mall parking charges practices are commonplace, not only in the region but in all European destinations.
Prices for both employees and visitors are based on operating costs. The decision to charge parking is not motivated by profit, but solely by the desire to provide sufficient parking space for our visitors. Our goal is to provide enough parking for the maintenance of this system, which is demanding by itself,” Perisic said.
A letter recently sent by Delta management to employees says employees at the mall's stores will be able to purchase a monthly parking ticket for a price of 30 euros but will need to attach a certificate of employment beforehand.
Delta City Shopping Center has a total of about 1,200 employees, and only on weekends, it is visited by 18,000 to 24,000 people, as management officials said earlier.
The Delta City shopping mall has 80 tenants, half of which are international brands. In 2016, Delta City shopping mall became part of the Hyprop Investments Group. Hyprop Investments is Africa's largest investment fund for shopping malls, and the Delta City shopping mall in Podgorica is managed by the newly established Hystead Limited, based in London. In the Delta Mall, over 90 events are held annually, ranging from fashion, children, entertainment, art to educational and humanitarian events.
Text by Ana Komatina, on July 31st, 2019, read more at Vijesti
The Rowing Story TV series, or 'Na veslu priča', during seven years and eighty episodes in which literary authors tell stories of nature and mentality while rowing, returned to RTS - Radio Television Serbia for a direct communication with authors, spirit and nature. It also brought back the documentary tradition of a direct recording of cultural and natural heritage that is disappearing.
In the fourth season, which is currently being broadcast, after Novi Sad and Budva, the author team "What do you want" takes us to Kotor in six Rowing Story episodes, which are broadcast on the national RTS 3 channel and the RTS World satellite program from Thursday, August 1, 2019, as announced from NGO “Matica Boke”.
The author of the concept and director of the series, Rastko Šejić, says: “We met and peeked into every corner of the UNESCO-protected town of Kotor. Today, he looks more like a boardwalk for curious tourists from giant cruisers casting shade on the walls and palaces of the ancient city center.
Gift shops and passing services dominate one of the cultural centers of the region.
After all, statistics say that 70% of Montenegro's cultural treasure lies in Kotor. And that spirit feels a bit carnival. It was a joy to become aware of the fact that three cultural organizations of the 19th century continue to operate. That the Square of Arms was a Theater. Missing originals. But Kotor is still alive. Spirit and stone, cunning defends itself. How he always defended himself. We shot great people, wonderful places from land, air and water. In a political moment of unnecessary tension between Titograd and Belgrade, cooperation at the spirit level must be vital."
Creators of this ancient city spoke about it. Dejan Dedovic Deda, half of the hip-hop duo Who See, discusses the legend of the Three Sisters – Tre sorele in the story "3 in 1 love" (1 August.), and curator and writer Radojka Abramovic considers fate of the Buća family in the episode "And Souls Talk "(2 August). Faculty of Drama Art in Cetinje professor Darko Antović tells about Filip J. Kovacevic in "Idealisao "(5. August.), doctor of philology and songwriter Isidora Milivojević talks about love using her poem and poetic story "Source of modernity "(6. August). Dragan Đurčić, a longtime Yugoslav water polo worker and general secretary of the Serbian Singing Society "Jedinstvo", founded in 1839, presents the legend "Primorac" (7. Aug.) about water polo in Kotor. In a joint episode of "How Can It Be" (8/8), all actors in the Kotor series confront opinions about the modern world, creativity, ecology and mentality.
Rowing Story executive producer Željko Komnenović (Matica Boke); composer Vladimir Lesic; director of photography Aleksandar Kalezic; cinematographer Djordje Obradovic; editor Milan Pejnović; art director: Zoran Mujbegović; announcer: Aleksandar Novakovic; barkarjoli - rowers Vinko Vujovic, Filo Biskupovic, Davor Lakicevic; intro animation Kosta Milovanovic, Miroslav Spajic. Production: What You Want © 2019. wdoyouw.org, Nut Boke. Project supported by: Kotor Municipality, Kotor TO, Luka Kotor, Herceg Novi Municipality
30 July 2019 - The public consultation was organized in Podgorica by the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Council of Europe and the European Union Delegation to Montenegro on the proposal for the law on Audio-Visual Media Services. Participants included representatives of media companies and NGOs dealing with issues related to media.
In a lively debate, it was concluded that Montenegro, as a European Union candidate country, has to align its legislation with the EU’s Audio-visual Media Services Directive.
Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović recalled that in 2018, a legislative review was initiated to align the media law with international standards, supported by experts from the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the OSCE, and followed by a broad dialogue among all stakeholders.
“Due to the rapid development of the media industry, additional issues relating to the free and unobstructed work of electronic media need to be regulated by law. The draft Law on Audio-Visual Media Services, implementing the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council and amending the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive, was adopted at the end of 2018 by the European Parliament. In addition, the draft recommendations from the JUFREX Analysis of the Media Sector of Montenegro have been implemented,” said Minister Bogdanović, as Ministry of Culture of Montenegro reported.
He also emphasized that the Government is an constructive partner in the field of democratic and reform processes, based on EU standards of a regulated media environment and as an essential precondition for building an open, multicultural society, with full readiness for European integration.
Head of the Co-operation Section at the EU Delegation to Montenegro Hermann Spitz said that Montenegro, as an EU candidate country, has to align its legislation with the EU’s Audio-visual Media Services Directive and that the process needs to be inclusive, coordinated and transparent.
“The EU, together with our partners in the Council of Europe and the OSCE, is happy to provide expertise and help Montenegro with the Draft Law on Audio-visual Media Services. The set of three new laws, which are being prepared by Montenegro, as well as the ongoing call for a new Council of the Agency for Electronic Media, represent very good opportunities for improving Montenegro’s track record in the media field. This is something that citizens expect and that the EU will continue to monitor very closely,” said Spitz.
Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Maryse Daviet recalled that two other media round table discussions took place this year: the first in February on the Draft Law on Media, and the second in March on the Draft Law on the public broadcaster, RTCG.
“Both roundtable discussions gave the public the opportunity to discuss the proposed amendments, as well as to hear the analysis of a number of international media legislation experts. With this third roundtable discussion, we hope to provide you with the same opportunity,” said Daviet.
Key recommendations of the Media Sector Analysis from 2017 were the basis for the legal reforms in Media law, said Lejla Dervišagić, Co-ordinator for the Council of Europe delegation.
“These reforms will be implemented in the second phase of the Council of Europe and EU’s joint JUFREX project: Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media in South-East Europe, over the next three years,” she concluded.
Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.
The E-mobility Days, with the motto “The Future is Electric”, will be organized on August 2 and 3 in Pristan, Ulcinj.
On the first day, models of electric cars, motorcycles, bicycles and scooters will be presented to citizens and tourists, while the second day, as announced from the Municipality Ulcinj, is reserved for owners of restaurants and fast food shops, to whom will be presented models of electric motorcycles for food delivery.
"The aim of the activity is to educate and raise citizens' awareness of the importance of using electric vehicles in traffic, the positive impact they have on the environment, on the quality of air in the city, as well as on the relief of jams and crowds in the inner-city centers," the municipality said.
The E-mobility days in Ulcinj are organized as part of the project "e-GUTS - Electric, Electronic and Green Urban Transport System", funded by the European Union within the Danube Transnational Program.
Text by CdM, on July 29th 2019, read more at CdM
With 200 kilometers of marked tracks and 48 peaks that are 2,000 meters above sea level, Durmitor has always been the target of many tourists. It will never be ascertained how many people walked along the paths towards the tops of the mountain that geographically belongs to the Dinaric system, and for which many say that part of the Alps has been transferred to Montenegro. According to historical data, the first recorded climb to the highest peak - Bobotov kuk, occurred in the 19th century. Various documents state that this was done by the Austrian cartographer Oskar Bauman 1883. His compatriot Kurt Hasert performed the first of three climbs on Bobotov kuk in 1891. He also published the first photos of Durmitor. It was noted that in 1926 Durmitor was visited by the first organized group of mountaineers from Zagreb.
Five years later, two Austrians performed their first winter ascent to Bezimeni peak.
It is not known how many people have since climbed to the highest peak of Durmitor, two and a half kilometers above sea level, although, for decades, there has been a notebook on Bobotov kuk in which each of the mountaineers could enroll.
"For a period, books containing the data of those who have conquered Bobotov kuk have been preserved. For other periods there are not any, and they do not know where they are, and in the recent period they are being kept," said Zoran Vojinovic, president of the Mountaineering Club "Durmitor", a prominent mountaineer and mountain rescuer.
Lack of records also denies the names of the recorders by the number of climbs on Bobotov kuk, but also on the other peaks.
Impassioned Durmitor lover, Petar Panic from Novi Sad, did not abandon his memories of coming to Zabljak. All this is properly recorded in a diary to avoid any imprecision through verbal conversations. He recorded that in the summer of 2005, he visited all the peaks of Durmitor over 2,000 meters in 17 days.
The unlimited number of expeditions are, however, mostly carried by people in their private tours. There used to be a service in which the conquerors of some peaks were recorded and in their mountaineering booklets was put a stamp of the peak they conquested. The reality is that the truth is left to the individuals how many people have come to the peaks of Durmitor, at what time of the year and in what weather. It is reliable that there were of all ages. It is known that 15 years ago, with her father's help, a two-year-old girl came out to Bobotov kuk and Dragisa Kecojević from Belgrade came to the highest point of Durmitor ten years ago. Most likely it is the youngest and oldest hiker who won Bobotov kuk. Any story about Durmitor cannot go without mentioning General Danilo Jaukovic who died on July 9, 1977, beneath Bobotov kuk. In honor of him, every year, a memorial hiking campaign is organized at the highest Durmitor peak.
It is not widely known that as early as 1934, a feature film "Knight of Durmitor" was shot for the first time, a Yugoslav-German co-production with Ita Rina as the main actress.
Two decades later, at Durmitor, the first hiking series was held in which 2,500 hikers participated.
Last summer, on Velika previja, at the highest Durmitor's peak, for the 130th anniversary of the expedition, the teacher Jovan Lausevic was the first domestic author to write about the Montenegrin mountains, which is considered the beginning of modern mountaineering, the mountaineers discovered a memorial plaque.
The president of the Mountaineering Association, Dragan Bulatovic, reminded that Lausevic published a travelogue report on Durmitor and other Montenegrin mountains in five sequels of "Voice of a Montenegrin", which makes him the precursor of contemporary mountain climbing.
On the development of mountaineering in Montenegro, the former president of the Mountaineering Association Mijo Kovacevic spoke on that occasion and emphasized that the beginners of modern mountaineering are Stojan Cerovic, Branislav Cerovic and academician Branimir Gusic.
"Mountaineers' homes in Durmitor were built following the idea of Stojan Cerovic. In 1935, Branislav started the first markings of the paths and placed the first boxes and stamps on the Durmitor peaks, and in 1938 with the academician, Gusic issued the first brochure on Durmitor - Durmitorski vođ’. Behind Branislav Cerovic is the capital work "Guide through Durmitor", which has been written in three editions in Serbo-Croatian, English and German. He also made a few mountain shelters and a detailed hiking map, which is still an example of quality educational material," said Kovacevic and recalled the documentary by Branislav Gusic from 1930, which was shown on that occasion.
Text by Obrad Pjesivac, on July 28th, 2019, read more at Vijesti
The Camellia Trophy in Stoliv was won by a fisherman from Prčanj Zvonko Usanović, who, along with Nenad Vujošević, caught a total of 11 kilograms of fish from the KT83 wooden boat. In addition to the laurel wreath, he also customarily won a camellia seedling. The fishers caught thirty kilos of various fish, scallops, gills and more. Within the traditional manifestation "Camellia Fest 2019", the event was organized by the non-governmental association "Kamelija" Stoliv, the Club of Sport Fishermen "Ama" from Kostanjica and the Local Community of Stoliv.
The unique race of wooden boats on the oars was not held, nor did the presentation of the gondolier, because of the strong wind. As told by the president of the Kamelija Association of Stoliv, Romeo Mihovic, just before the great storm in the bay Yachting Club "Lahor" from Kotor successfully held their promotional regatta.
For participants of the manifestation and guests, lunch was made from freshly caught fish, together with specialties of worthy Stoliv homemakers and a part was provided by Tivat Montefish.
"Fish and wine always have to be there for whoever comes by. This is not only a promotional event, in terms of preserving wooden vessels, but also a tourist event. This is the last segment of this year's Camellia Feast, which has been delayed several times because of the weather, and can be an indication of how many guests we have here. A number of guests and locals always come to us, which makes us happy," Mihović said.
To protect and preserve wooden boats, and to propose these vessels to be a material cultural asset, the signing of a petition is organized. The association invites lovers of wooden boats to join the action via the Internet at drvenebarke.blogspot.com.
Kamelija Association celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, since the day of Our Lady of Health, 21st of November in 1919, a Tamburitza Association "Guslar" was founded. This date is commemorated each year, and since it is a jubilee year, it will be celebrated specially.
Incognito, pioneers of the acid jazz movement and one of the best British bands in the past four decades, will perform on August 17 in Synchro Porto Montenegro, announced Porto Montenegro.
The Incognito band will perform with their fourteen-member orchestra at the Porto Montenegro Marina. It will be a Synchronized event, the highlight of the Soul Summer in Porto edition, jointly organized by the Southern Soul Festival and Porto Montenegro over the summer.
After the release of their last 17th studio album "In Search of Better Days", the band is touring the whole world, performing some of their biggest hits, such as "Still a Friend of Mine", "Do Not You Worry" Bout a Thing ", "Deep Waters". In Montenegro, their concert will be held outdoors, in the Synchro Arena, just meters from the sea, which is the perfect location for the sound Incognito brings to us.
The band's career has lasted 40 years and Incognito is a true legend of British music today. From the hits which have been on the Top 10 lists to production and collaboration with the most famous artists - from R & B icons to contemporary jazz musicians, including George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Jocelyn Brown, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Paul Weller, Maxi Priest, Mario Biondi - Incognito proudly holds its place among the world greats of soul music.
Incognito is a jazz/funk/soul band, and with their fourteen-member orchestra, their energetic performance is a true musical and artistic spectacle. Their concerts are an event that some feel everyone must-see live, at least once in their lives. They shine, imparting irresistible vibes and positive messages through their music.
The Southern Soul Festival traditionally supports talented young musicians, and this time offers the opportunity for our young jazz piano enthusiast, Sara Jovovic, who is studying at the prestigious Berklee Music Academy in Boston, opening the event with her band.
Tickets for the event will be on sale through the Gigstix network at over 50 Tobacco S Press outlets in Montenegro and they can also be purchased online.
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