News

01 Jan 2019, 14:59 PM

January 1, 2019 - The Ministry of Health has begun to think about building a new hospital in Kotor, said the Director of the General Hospital of Kotor, Dr Ivan Ilic.

According to the 2011 census, Boka Kotorska has over 80,000 inhabitants. The Kotor General Hospital is a medical centre also for patients from Budva, and more than 1200 foreign patients were treated last summer in this facility.
 
Asked if the hospital has the capacity for medical care of so many patients, Dr Ilic explained: "One is hospital accommodation, and the other is a contemporary treatment, a treatment that does not require long-term hospital accommodation but is, therefore, looking for an extremely organised emergency, the so-called daily operation. It implies active treatment, quality diagnosis, and recovery of patients. Regarding our capacity, we have about 165 beds that meet the needs of the region, but we are not satisfied with the space we have, and I constantly repeat it to all those in charge.”
 
Dr Ilic reminded that Kotor never got the main hospital building rebuilt after its destruction in the earthquake in 1979. Instead of new construction, there were montage buildings completely dismantled through decades. Over the past three years, the management has, through donations and own resources, adapted 850 square meters of montage facilities for the needs of polyclinics, laboratories, and technical services. In the same way, they intend to provide the facilities for dialysis, transfusion, and apothecary.
 
"We have a brilliantly equipped operating block that, unfortunately, is in an improvised space. This space is not built to be an operational block and cannot meet standards. It's the same with emergency service. For good functioning of this medical centre, it is necessary to invest funds for its expansion," says director Ivan Ilić.
 
"If there is a need to build a new medical centre somewhere then this is in this area. We have strong demographic growth, especially in Budva, Tivat and Kotor. The space between Jaz and the airport of Tivat will turn for few years in a large settlement. It would be ideal to build a new modern facility in the so-called Industrial zone and to bring together all three hospitals: the General Hospital of Kotor, the Psychiatric Hospital in Dobrota and the Special Hospital for Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Neurology in Risan," according to Dr Ilić.
 
"I sent the Minister of Health a letter explaining why we needed a new hospital. I know that the Ministry is looking for ways to fund the construction. The plot of land of the Kotor and Dobrota hospitals is well worth the value of 15 million euros, which would serve as compensation. I predict that the construction of a new hospital would cost 40 million euros and that it would be quite achievable for our country. I constantly repeat that by developing tourism, we get guests who are thinking about where they go and what kind of health care they are on this destination. We have to take this into account because we have declared tourism as a strategic business branch," stressed for Boka News, the director of the General Hospital of Kotor, Dr Ivan Ilic.
 
Source: Boka News
 
31 Dec 2018, 16:53 PM
December 31, 2018 - The craftsmanship of wooden boats in Montenegro will soon gain the status of an immaterial cultural asset. The beautiful news came that the Cultural Heritage Management Board of the Ministry of Culture finally accepted the initiative of the Caliphate Workshop Bokovac and its dedicated masters, Pero and Nenad Bokovac, to protect the art of crafting wooden boats. Establishing the protection of craftsmanship should open the door to the preservation of numerous examples of traditional wooden boats, some of them more than a hundred years old, but also to ensure that craftsmanship of old craftsmen is preserved for future generations.
 
The official acceptance of the protection initiative by the competent cultural institution is only a first step in the process, which implies the application of regulations for the protection and the determination of the cultural and historical value of the craftsmanship of wooden boats.
 
"This act is of great significance to us and our ten-year-long work and effort, which is, for the first time, in the right way valued. In our caliphate workshop, we persist, with love and many resignations, preserving and maintaining the ancient knowledge and skills of the old craftsmen, caliphates, and boaters. We are one of the few in Bar, Kotor, Tivat and Herceg Novi as well as out of the borders of Montenegro. Accepting the Initiative gives us a strong wind in the back to us and to all who deal with traditional shipbuilding. Official protection is not only a question of preserving beautiful traditions but also worthy of knowledge," commented the news portal www.jedro.me PR manager of the Caliphate Workshop Bokovac, Miroslavka Lala Bokovac.
 
wooden boats 2photo by Zoran Nikolic, http://drvenebarke.blogspot.com
 
The long and hard work of Pero Bokovac and his son Nenad has recently been nationally recognised in economic terms, and the products of the Caliphate Workshop Bokovac have been awarded the status of a protected, Montenegrin product. Also, family Bokovac succeed in placing their products on the international market. In shipbuilding, they cooperate with domestic companies, Navar Shipyard, and Avel Yachting & North Sails from Tivat.
 
The Caliphate Workshop Bokovac is responsible for the popularisation of the "Arsenalka", the only authentic Montenegrin wooden boat built in the former Tivat’s Arsenal, which they have saved from oblivion, devoting themselves to the creation of new wooden boats of this type. They also added a Latin sail, which contributed to both function and admiration.
 
In popularising the importance of preserving the knowledge required for the construction of traditional wooden boats, Caliphate Workshop Bokovac has the support of photographer Zoran Nikolic from Stoliv, who has been blogging on wooden vessels for many years and has been helping Bokelians to rebuild old boats for a long time. Help also comes from NGO Kamelija Stoliv, which has been organising a rowing wooden boats race called Camellia Trophy for six years now.
30 Dec 2018, 21:12 PM

30 December 2018 - The Report on the Work of the Bureau for Operational Coordination of the Work of Security Services was adopted, and it was noted that the work of the Bureau ensured the improvement of the law enforcement cooperation, which contributed to a higher level of security and safety. 

The Council adopted the Information on the implemented activities in the fight against serious and organised crime prepared by the Police Directorate and welcomed the results of the police, the State Prosecutor's Office and others in countering organised crime and other forms of serious crime. 

The session stated that this resulted in arrests and prosecutions of organised crime instigators and members of their groups. In this regard, the Council requested continuation of activities aimed at suppressing all forms of crime. 

Furthermore, the Council adopted the Information on the actions of the Police Directorate in the field of fight against trafficking in human beings, emphasising the achieved results. The Council requests that this area ought to be among the priorities in the further work of the Police Directorate, as well as the State Prosecutor's Office. 

It was concluded that particular emphasis should be placed on the suppression of the grey economy and informal work, to create the conditions for lawfully doing business and that every euro of the budget revenue goes into the state budget. 

This will include special control measures not only in the private sector, but also eliminate any irregularities in the spending of state money.

"The grey economy is devastating not only for the economic environment and business operations of your companies, but also for the consciousness of our people. We need to show that the moonlighting is unethical, unreasonable and punishable by the law," said the Prime Minister only few days earlier, adding that the grey economy is taking future from our children.

30 Dec 2018, 21:08 PM

30 December 2018 - In the year behind us, we worked hard to ensure a better economic and social environment for employees, but also full legal security and the rule of law, Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković said in a New Year's message. 

"We tried to eliminate the weaknesses that jeopardized our system and the smooth functioning of the state and society as a whole. We have achieved success in economic policy - achieved significant economic growth as well as the stability of the budget. I believe that today we can say that each of you felt some benefit from the results we achieved," PM Marković said. 

He stressed that we would continue vigorously next year to provide higher incomes for pensioners, employees in education and health care, but also in other sectors. 

"We want to open new jobs and ensure regular and just social benefits. And of course, in the dialogue with employers, we want to provide a better standard of private sector employees," the Prime Minister said. 

We succeeded, he stressed, in development policies despite the still present need to defend the state and identity from those who still call for its disappearance. 

"I want to say that Montenegro is the eternal home of all its citizens, and its sovereignty and independence cannot be the subject of discussion or compromise, and that is why I want to be close to one another in 2019, to better understand one another and return with our entire civil being to what has adorned Montenegro for centuries - and that is coexistence, harmony, and tolerance," Prime Minister Marković stressed. 

On behalf of the Government and in his name, Prime Minister Duško Marković congratulated the citizens on New Year, wishing them good health, personal and family happiness.

30 Dec 2018, 21:02 PM

30 December 2018 - From the moment of activation, there has been a sharp rise in the number of investors ready to purchase stocks of the Electric Power Company of Montenegro, which tells a lot about our potentials, economy minister Dragica Sekulić said in an interview with Pobjeda, a daily.

“I am pleased to reveal that it is about big companies from the EU member states, the United States, China. This, of course, means we would have even greater responsibility in selecting our new strategic partner. What I can tell you right now is that we are going to look for a partner capable of making the Electric Power Company of Montenegro a greater company with larger profits,” said Sekulić.

According to Sekulić, the Montenegrin economy does not need a buyer of Electric Power Company of Montenegro but a strategic partner that would contribute to growth and development of this company through efficiency and increased competitiveness.

“It would be unrealistic to expect massive revenues from the sale of Electric Power Company of Montenegro and that it can be further developed in a modern and sustainable manner while being majority-owned by the state. The Electric Power Company of Montenegro has two unique production facilities and best overview of development potentials in the country, but valorization of both requires openness to contemporary experiences and practice,” noted Sekulić.

She also explained that the implementation of put option required paying of 250 million EUR in seven annual installments for stocks of the Italian energy company A2A.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro

30 Dec 2018, 20:55 PM

30 December 2018 - "The Western Balkans need to become part of the European Union (EU) as soon as possible, and we will remain committed to providing support to our partners in the region," said Romanian foreign affairs minister Teodor Melescanu.

This is especially important due to the fact Romania is to take over presidency over the Council of the EU as of 1 January, and Melescanu stressed that it would be essential for Montenegro to open all negotiation chapters to come closer to the European community.

“Romania will continue with encouraging the enlargement process by using all the forthcoming key moments for further promotion of the EU involvement in the region, as well as commitment of our partners to reforms and demographic transformations. We will keep stressing the importance of joint support to the Western Balkans in order to be able to respond to the requirements of the accession process,” concluded Melescanu.

They have been, Melescanu said, fully aware of the fact Montenegro needs to open all negotiation chapters while at the same time being focused on the internal preps, which enable closing of some chapters.

Back in July 2018, representatives of the Government of Montenegro hosted the Prime Minister of Romania, Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă, who paid an official visit to Montenegro.

"We particularly appreciate the visit of Prime Minister Dăncilă ahead of Romania's first presidency of the EU Council next year, in the first half of 2019. At the same time, we want to congratulate you in advance and wish Romania success during the presidency and thank you for the fact that Montenegro and the Western Balkans are already high on their agenda," the Prime Minister of Montenegro said during this occasion.

Dăncilă said that she had very constructive discussions with Prime Minister Marković and emphasised that in the future, the two countries will pay more attention to sectoral cooperation and cooperation in the field of energy, education, culture, and tourism, as well as cooperation in the field of investments.

"We decided to organise an economic forum together to present one of the first steps in promoting cooperation between the two countries," Romanian Prime Minister Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă concluded.

30 Dec 2018, 13:17 PM

December 30, 2018 - New Year's program in Bokelian cities is very diverse, so it's hard not to find a party for your taste. Whether you are a fan of good rock, love pop or enjoy the sounds of folk music, Kotor, Tivat, Budva or Herceg Novi will satisfy your preferences. Here's a review of the New Year's programs that will make it easy for you to make a decision.

NEW YEAR PROGRAM - KOTOR

 
new year program Kotor Rock New Year 1Kotor enters the New Year with the sounds of good rock. After the Children’s New Year and performances of Kotor’s musicians planned for today, tomorrow a two-day Rock New Year's program begins, where the most popular regional rock names of today will perform.
 
The spectacle at the Kotor’s Arms Square will open with Sarajevo’s band Bombaj Press, and the New Year will be brought in by the great music of Darko Rundek & Ekipa. The following is the performance of Damir Urban, and the band M.O.R.T. is responsible for the fun until the morning hours.
 
For the first night of the New Year 2019, the Kotor Tourist Organization also organized performances of four rock bands. The program begins with the performance of Four Blues Driver, followed by Galija, Psihomodo Pop and Autogeni Trening.
 

NEW YEAR PROGRAM - TIVAT

 
new year program Tivat 2019jpgThe main New Year program in Tivat is closer to the preferences of fans of folk music, but the organizers made sure to offer a diverse accompanying program.
 
Tonight from 9.30 pm, the Split Disco Inferno band starts the program called Magic Night.
 
Tivat will enter in 2019 with the songs of Željko Joksimović. Before the regional folk music star performs the tribute band "Abba."
 
The first night in 2019 the citizens and guests of "Montenegrin Monte Carlo" will entertain the Balkan folk star, Lepa Brena. Montenegrin musician Bojan Delić and his band play as a pre-group.
 
The program at Tivat will continue on 2 January, when Ana Kokic and the Tivat band Toć will perform.
 

NEW YEAR PROGRAM - HERCEG NOVI

 
new year program hnHerceg Novi and its guests will enter the New Year 2019 with the hits of the Belgrade rock band "Riblja čorba" and their frontman Bora Djordjevic. They will perform at Igalo on 31 December from 23:00. At the same stage at 21:00, as a pre-band, Kotor’s band "Light under the black mountain" performs.
 
The biggest Montenegrin pop star, Sergej Ćetković, plays in Igalo on 1 January. The concert will follow after the performance of the Tivat band "Toć."
 
Alternative festive entertainment is available in Herceg Novi. Favorite DJs will perform at Skver on 31 December and 1 January. There are daily groans as well as a New Year's Eve Party.
 

NEW YEAR PROGRAM- BUDVA

 
new year program budvaThis year, Budva organizes a jubilee New Year celebration on the square in front of the Old Town.
 
Tonight there is an electronic music program in Budva with local DJs, Burak Yeter (Turkey) and Darren Emerson (UK).
 
The New Year's Eve program begins with Jack Lupino and Leftovers and the Aerodrome group. In the first minutes of 2019, the gathering will introduce the pop-folk star, Dino Merlin.
 
Budva traditionally organizes a concert of classical music in front of the Old Town on 1 January at 2 pm. This year the Revival Orchestra performs with Sara Vujošević, Emilija Minić, Marijan Šovran, and Lana Asija Dabović.
In the evening part of the program perform Akademija, Partibrejkersi, and the program ends with the Van Gogh group concert.
 
30 Dec 2018, 12:16 PM

December 30, 2018 - Within the celebration of the Children's New Year at the Arms Square in Kotor, the central event “Waiting for Santa Claus“ starts today at 4 pm. Activists of NGO Karampana and Kotor's artist Goran Moškov Gonzo have prepared an interactive program with a message – Let's Love, This is the Year of Love! As part of the event From Christmas to Christmas, follow the performances of the Kotor musicians in the program named "Kotor-City of Good Music." General sponsor of the event From Christmas to Christmas is Luštica Development company.

For the fourth consecutive year, Luštica Development supports the organization of the program "From Christmas to Christmas," which is taking place from December 23 to January 8, 2019. The company's particular emphasis is placed each year on the celebration of the Children's New Year on 30 December. 
 
The program lasts all day, with a traditional Santa Claus visit to the maternity and nursery department at the General Hospital in Kotor at noon. A joyful parade will give gifts to the children who will not spend the New Year holidays in the warmth of their homes, or at the central event "Waiting for Santa Claus," which will take place at the Arms Square from 4 pm.
 
During the central celebration, the children will be able to watch the interactive children's play "Let's Love - This is the Year of Love." The organizer provides new year gifts to all the children who come to Kotor today. 
In the continuation of the program from 8 pm begins the music program "Kotor, a City of Good Music," which will feature the Kotor's Who See Klapa, Niggor, and Jelena Kaženegra.
 
"Cooperation with NGO Karampana, one of the organizers of the program, is a special honor and the representatives of Luštica development company are always pleased to attend and support the rich New Year program of Kotor. We give the special attention to the Children's New Year, bringing the loudest joy, mumbling the most sincere smile the most credible way is to enter the upcoming calendar year with those who are our future," said Slavica Milić from Luštica Bay marketing team.
 
childerns new year and kotor musiciansOver the last year, Kotor had a record number of concerts that featured some of the greatest names of the world, regional and local classical, jazz, pop and rock music, orchestras and smaller instrumental ensembles, choruses, and soloists. Thus Balkan recognizes Kotor as a city of good music, and proportional to the number of inhabitants and concerts is also the most prominent concert stage in the region.
Therefore, at the end of the year, the stage is reserved to the Kotor musicians whose work the regional audience has been watching for more than a decade. The public at the Arms Square will have a chance to hear a rich repertoire. The musicians have announced premier performances and numerous surprises.
 
29 Dec 2018, 23:34 PM

29 December 2018 - On the occasion of the New Year and Christmas holidays, the Ministry of Defence established earlier this morning a video link with the Marmal base in Afghanistan and members of the IX contingent of the Armed Forces of Montenegro in the Resolute Support mission.

Montenegro's soldiers were addressed by Minister of Defence Predrag Boškovićand Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, Brigadier General Dragutin Dakič. They pointed out that not only the Armed Forces but the whole of Montenegro is proud of Montenegro's soldiers in Afghanistan.

Wishing them to return to their families with their regular obligations in Montenegro, Minister Bošković emphasised the reputation Montenegrin soldiers have in this, but also in all missions and operations in which they participate.

"All information indicates that a Montenegrin soldier is an example of a soldier in the Resolute Support mission. We work together to raise the quality of the entire Armed Forces and the capabilities of each of its members. You need to know that everything we do here is done for you in missions, away from your homes and your country," he stressed.

The Defence Minister added that the Ministry and the Armed Forces of Montenegro would continue to do so in the future, regardless of their size and possibilities, to contribute to the global aspirations for maintaining international peace and stability.

"And when you return, we should together build the Armed Forces of Montenegro and place it on the playground where it had been through Montenegrin history, as one of the most appreciated parts of the society," Minister Bošković concluded.

Afghanistan2912 1

General Dakić said that he is still under the impressions from his recent visit to members of the IX contingent, especially because of the assessments he heard in Afghanistan from allies and partners about the way Montenegro's soldiers perform their tasks. "You have set standards not only for the Montenegrin Army but also for the partners with whom you are on the mission," the Chief of General Staff underscored.

He concluded by telling the soldiers in the Resolute Support mission to be persistent and professional until the end, as a Montenegrin soldier is expected to be.

 

29 Dec 2018, 23:31 PM

29 December 2018 - The Government of Montenegro adopted the Programme prepared by the Ministry of Science for encouraging innovative startups in Montenegro, which will contribute to the creation of attractive solutions for the innovative ecosystem.

The Program was adopted along with the Action Plan 2019-2021 and represents the result of a half-year cooperation within the national partnership for creating an innovative ecosystem and expert support, through the project Horizon 2020.

“The Program itself includes measures for eliminating legal obstacles, development of advanced financial systems, encouraging and attracting talents with the aim of creating knowledge and new values, fostering an entrepreneurial culture and access to markets of innovative and entrepreneurial projects,” the Ministry of Science said.

The Government allocated around 4.5 million EUR for encouraging innovative startups over three years.

At the World Summit Awards in Vienna, which took place in March 2018, the Montenegrin innovation Beeand.me was named the best innovation in the Business and Commerce category. The World Summit Awards is awarded each year to local digital innovations that, by their creation and action, managed to create value that has influenced the development and prosperity of society.

BeeAnd.me is a Montenegrin startup founded in 2016 by young researchers Elma Hot and Alija Dervic, students of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Montenegro. Elma is a student of master studies and is engaged in the first Montenegrin Centre for Excellence in Bioinformatics (BIO-ICT). After completing his master's studies and engagements at the BIO-ICT Centre, Alija continued his Ph.D. studies at the Technical University of Vienna, where he was engaged at the EMCE Institute.

29 Dec 2018, 17:53 PM

December 28, 2018 - Via Ferrata Kotor is open to all interested lovers of a healthy lifestyle and adrenaline entertainment. Montagna Travel Montenegro Agency, which manages the trail, has made sure to enrich the winter season in Boka Bay, where citizens and guests do not have a lot of outdoor activities during winter months. On the occasion of the holiday and the winter school break, they offered promotional prices under the weekend action, which will last until the beginning of March. You can go uphill tomorrow, and the next offer is January 5th and 6th.

Via Ferrata represents a secured mountain trail that through the help of cables and metal galleys crosses difficult parts of mountainous massifs. Ferrates are suitable not only for professional alpinists but also for people of average physical fitness who are not active in hiking and sports.

Via Ferrata is on the way out of the canyon of Skurda, near the entrance to the Old Town of Kotor on Tabacina. The trail begins at an altitude of 80 m, and its endpoint is 205 m above sea level. From the rocks of Via Ferrata Kotor, participants could enjoy an outstanding view of the Kotor Bay, the Fort San Giovanni, the Old Town of Kotor and the old pedestrian way towards Montenegro through the village of Spiljari.
 
Via Ferrata is a protected climbing route found in the Alps, but through time became more popular and recently found in many locations. Via Ferrata Kotor is the first safe climbing zone created in Montenegro, opened for visitors on 2 May this year.
 
For each participant, the Via Ferrata organizer provides the alpinist and protective equipment of the helmet, belt and safety system, which includes two karabiners and belt clip. The tours are leaded by experienced guides and hikers and members of the mountain rescue service.
 

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