December 16, 2018 - After the defeat in Las Palmas on Gran Canarias, the fifth in the Euro league, the basketball players of Buducnost Voli turn to their obligations to the ABA League.

The team of Aleksandar Dzikic hosted Cibona Sunday evening (7 p.m.) in the last match of the first part of the regional league competition.

For almost five years, the team from Podgorica have been undefeated in the duel with Cibona that is, in the last eight mutual encounters.

"We are expecting a tough game, and we are playing after two long trips. The Cibona players are very experienced; they have points to their advantage, they play wide and with a lot of isolation. We need to control the rhythm of the match and take advantage of the jump," says Aleksandar Dzikic, who will not be able to count on the injured Nikola Ivanovic and Aleksa Ilic.

On the eve of the Sunday duel, Buducnost is the second in the ABA league with eight victories from 10 matches, while on the ninth place with four wins.

"After a difficult jorney we come across a very unpleasant opponent, they have very experienced players, and we have to impose our rhythm from the beginning of the match. I am sure that we expect a great game and we hope for the best outcome," said the center of Podgorica team Filip Filipovic.

Text by Sasa Joncic, on December 15th, 2018, read more at Vijesti

15 December 2018 - Prime Minister Duško Marković presented the 2018 "Petar Lubarda" state award to Milka Delibašić for her work "Static Within the Transit of Time."

Speaking at the ceremony at the Montenegrin Art Gallery "Miodrag Dado Đurić" in Cetinje, PM Marković said that when such a recognition is earned at the beginning of someone's creative opus, then it is natural that "two feelings intertwine within you - satisfaction in artistic achievement, but also creative anxiety ahead of future challenges."

"I believe that Delibašić is thinking this way too - the seventh winner of the "Petar Lubarda" state award, the first woman to receive the award, the youngest prize winner and the first prize awarded outside the classical forms of fine arts for the artwork in the field of video installations," the Prime Minister underscored.

In Delibašić's work and the courageous decision of the jury to award her the prize, the Prime Minister sees the recognition of a new Montenegro - brave and eager to find its place in the contemporary world, "of Montenegro without complexes and stereotypes; very aware of its cultural and spiritual heritage, tradition and identity, but determined to take a step forward in modern times and be their inseparable part - of Montenegro that is firmly future-oriented." The Prime Minister added that he is hopeful that this year's Petar Lubarda Art Salon will encourage precisely the Montenegro that is looking into the future.

The award-winning artist Milka Delibašić thanked the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, saying that it is her special honour that the award was given to her by a jury whose members she strongly appreciates. She noted she is also honored by the fact that she is the first woman to receive the award and that she taught about the freedom of art expression.from the works of Montenegro's numerous artists,

"I would like to call on young artists to do more research work in art and to turn more to some new and different approaches so that our scene becomes more diverse and richer," said Milka Delibašić. She emphasised the need for further support of the State and institutions for artists.

15 December 2018 - The Ministry of Defense of Montenegro and Armed Forces of Montenegro is planning to go into a credit debt of 30 million EUR for the purchase of 67 armored vehicles.

The Government’s documents state that finds for defense will make 2,98% of GDP in 2019, more than predicted by NATO standards and caused by the provision of armored vehicles and payment of installments for helicopters.

“Profit that the Ministry of Defense makes by selling armament, selling and renting former military property (immovable) and provision of services, as well as the funds on the basis of refunding costs by NATO will amount up to 5.000.000 EUR and will be used for the achievement of partnership objectives and equipment of the Army, inclusive of uniforms”.

The budget of the Army will amount 36,8 million EUR. Most of that money (20,86 million EUR) will be spent on earnings.

As far as the missions in which Montenegrin soldiers take part, the budget predicted 2.294.456 EUR for the fees in the missions and for the payments fort he field work, accommodation in camps and barracks as well as for the engagement of soldiers in recovering consequences caused by natural disasters.

In 2019, it is planned that soldiers of the Armed Forces of Montenegro be engaged in five peacekeeping missions: in Afghanistan (20 soldiers), Somalia (7 soldiers), Mali (1 soldier), West Sahara (2 soldiers) and in KFOR mission in Kosovo (2 soldiers).

For the lease of premises in NATO headquarters, Ministry will provide 680.000 EUR, and for the Council, they will provide 20.000 EUR.

During the September 2018, Armed Forces of Montenegro bought two new Bell 412 EPI multi-purpose helicopters. Bell 412 EP/EPI multi-purpose four-wheeled helicopters are designed for the transport of passengers, injured and sick people, search and rescue, cargo transfer, fire extinguishing, and border control. The capacity of the delivered version is 13 seats.

14 December 2018 - Prime Minister Duško Marković extended his thanks to Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz for the successful presidency of the Council of the European Union over the past six months and expressed his gratitude for Austria's support in ensuring member states' giving their consent to Montenegro's opening of Chapter 27.

"I assure you that Montenegro will be responsible and fully aware of the complexity and importance of the negotiations in fulfiling these and all other obligations. Montenegro's path to the EU is a continuous positive trend, and the newly opened chapter is an incentive for further fundamental reforms and the accession process which brings increasingly visible quality to our society and citizens on a daily basis," PM Marković's letter of gratitude to Chancellor Kurz, sent ahead of the ending of the Austrian presidency of the Council of the EU, reads.

Noting that Austria, as always, has shown that it is up to the task, the Prime Minister stated that Montenegro especially appreciates Chancellor Kurz's positive and encouraging message concerning the region and its European perspective.

 "As a country that knows, understands, and supports the region of the Western Balkans, and the specifics of each country individually, Austria has further strengthened the path of all of us towards that goal and the permanent stabilisation of this area," Prime Minister Duško Marković points out in his letter addressed to Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

 At the end of the letter, Prime Minister Marković highlights that European future of the region has no alternative, stressing that the Austrian Chancellor can always count on Montenegro as a partner in attaining these worthwhile goals.

During the Vienna Economic Forum which was held during mid-November, Federal Chancellor Kurz, told at the press conference that Austria, during its presidency of the Council of the European Union, will focus on three areas: the region's path towards the European Union, the necessary regional cooperation and the resolution of bilateral disputes in the region. Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn emphasised that all Western Balkan countries have a European perspective, although it is not realistic that they all join the Union at the same time. 

14 December 2018 - The Minister of Public Administration Suzana Pribilović has received a letter from Sanjay Pradhan, Chief Executive Officer of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), stating that Montenegro regained its active status in the Open Government Partnership Initiative.

"Given the adoption of the Action Plan 2018-2020, it is our great pleasure to confirm that Montenegro has regained its active status in the OGP, coming into force on 20 November 2018," the letter states.

Montenegro joined the OGP on 13 February 2012 and signed the declaration on the open government.

Read more information about Open Government Partnership.

15 December 2018 - December at the Regent Porto Montenegro hotel will glow with a festive mood thanks to the Fifth Annual Christmas Market.

“Discover the Adriatic Winter wonderland and choose from a distinctive selection of local arts and crafts as well as traditional festive treats,” says the official invitation by the Hotel Regent.

The Christmas Market will be held during three weekends in December (15 and 16; 22 and 23; 29 and 30) from 12 am to 4 pm at the restaurant Gourmet Corner. This year, the event will once again bring together creators, small producers, art workshops and enthusiasts, who will offer their original products and creations to all visitors, thus launching a magic of festive gifts. Various products will be displayed at the stands: olive oil and other olive wood products, Christmas decorations, natural products made according to the traditional recipes, decoupage, toys made of natural materials, homemade jams and liqueurs, handmade jewellery and traditional hand-made scarves and bags. All visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy songs played by members of the band "Toć", which will support the Christmas Market and the Food Festival on December 15th and create the perfect conditions for socializing for the holidays.

The Regent Porto Montenegro food and beverage department will contribute to the Christmas Market offer with festive delicacies: traditional Christmas cakes and biscuits, hot chocolate, boiled wine, tea and other warm beverages. The Hotel’s restaurant will also supply the fair with salty delicacies such as sausages, homemade pasta that will be served with Grana Padano cheese, and fried Mediterranean sand smelt, which will give the beginning of this year's Christmas Market a unique gastronomic dimension. The Christmas Market is an ideal opportunity for everyone who wants to find a unique and interesting gift for their loved ones, to have fun and enjoy the magic of the holidays on the Tivat coast.

15 December 2018 - The First Book Festival - Humanities, Culture and Art in Montenegro – “FesK Kotor (FesKK)” will be officially opened on Thursday, December 20 at 7 pm in the Gallery of Solidarity in Kotor, under the auspices of the Kotor Municipality, organized by the Public Institution “Muzeji” Kotor and the Centre for Culture “Nikola Đurković" Kotor, and licensed by the publishing house HERAedu from Belgrade. On the same day, an exhibition of the old and rare books of the Museum of the city of Perast will be held at noon.

The Festival aims to draw attention to the importance of high-quality content in the publishing industry of Montenegro in the field of humanities, culture, and art, and to affirm the role of publishing in the national culture of Montenegro. FesKK wants to point to the global trends of the multidisciplinary approach in these areas and emphasize social responsibility and ethical principles in the sphere of culture.

A three-day multimedia program entitled “Cultural Heritage Pro Futuro” will gather the representatives of Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts and other Montenegrin publishers, like libraries, faculties, institutes, museums, galleries, all at one place. In addition to multiple promotional events during each day of the festival, the program will include an exhibition of old and rare books of the Museum of Perast (PI “Muzeji” Kotor), as well as a roundtable on the subject “Green Culture” after the screening of two US feature films. Guest of the Festival is the Association of Publishers from Sarajevo (BiH).

The award ceremony will be organized on the third day of the event, at 7.30 pm. For the first time in Montenegro, the value of books that make a significant scientific contribution, contribution to innovative educational practice, as well as valuable reprints of the publications of old books with features of impenetrable value, will be recognized and awarded during the FesKK Festival.

The festival will be held from December 20 to 22, 2018, from 10 am to 8 pm in the Gallery of Solidarity in the Old Town of Kotor, and films and the roundtable will be held in the Cinema of Boka and the multimedia hall of the Cultural Centre "Nikola Đurković".

Source: Culture Corner “Kutak”

December 15, 2018 - The first Regent Charity Ball was held on Friday, 14 December at the Regent's full banquet hall. The donors collected €15,665 to be donated to the General Hospital of Kotor for the purchase of necessary medical equipment - two defibrillators.

December 15, 2018 - The New Year mood slowly catches everything around us, as well as the well-known sculptor and sailor of Boka Bay, Goran Moškov Gonzo. Preparations for the Children's New Year in Kotor are underway, and without Gonzo, it just cannot pass. As an associate of one of the organizers of the program, the NGO Karampana, Gonzo participates in the design and creation of the story to be given to the youngest citizens and visitors of Kotor within the Children's New Year, this city is being organized for a few years.

Winter for Gonzo is certainly a period of intense creativity, because he has adapted his life to a brilliant way of sailing and absorbing the energy of the sun and the sea during the summer months, in order to dedicate the winter to art in various ways. Participation in the creation of the Children's New Year is among his regular anual activities.

"December is a time of joy and creativity. And I got involved in the children's joy. Preparations for the Children's New Year are underway. Kotor as a city of children is increasing and more and more dedicated to the youngest. That's how I'm going through the whole month. Because, when it comes to doing, we are investing not only work but also leisure time to be ready in time and for the joy of the children," says TMN Gonzo, who is also Kotor's Santa Claus.

"For several years, I have the honor of being Kotor's Santa Claus. This does not only involve participation in the central ceremony and accompanying programs for the children we organize, but also the humanitarian program designed by the Kotor Tourism Organization and NGO Karampana under the auspices of Luštica Bay Company. This is a visit to the Children's and Neonatal Department of the General Hospital in Kotor and the distribution of new-year packages and gifts for newly born babies.

Children already know that in Kotor we prepare gifts for all children. But here we are especially careful and devoted, and thanks to the sponsorship of Luštica Bay, we can provide special gifts for children who will, unfortunately, spend New Year Eve out of their homes, without their families. The most beautiful times of the year they are alone, and they deserve to be treated specially. We have an entertaining program, and we go from one hospital room to another, carrying an electric sleigh, which we did a few years ago for this purpose. We have a guitar, we sing with children, we joke. To them, that means a lot," says Gonzo, Kotor's Santa Claus.

And in the streets of Kotor, visitors to the Children's New Year expect surprises. "The Municipality of Herceg Novi is going to lend us a city train, so children will have the opportunity to be in the company of Santa Claus driving the city streets. As always, it will be a lot of fun, with enough surprises. And for the central manifestation of the Children's New Year's we have created some new, fun and educational concepts," Gonzo announced with the laugh of Santa Claus.

"We will make a nice story that will be both educational and entertaining. In addition to what the kids are most interested in, and that is the arrival of Santa Claus and sharing gifts. So, this is a call for all children and their parents- come and join us on 30 December at 6pm on the Square of Arms to meet the Children's New Year in Kotor," said Gonzo. 

Knowing what surprises Gonzo and his friends made in previous years, there is no reason to suspect that for this Children's New Year they are also organizing a spectacle. The greatest of all was the giant Santa Claus, who was waiting for the children in front of the main city gates, almost surmounting the walls of the Old Town.

"This was a brilliant project of the Kotor's Festival of Children's Theater and its director Petar Pejakovic. The theater production made that giant doll within the framework of a completely different story, the children's play Guliver, and we realized that we also could use it to provide the children in Kotor to receive the greatest Santa Claus they saw. It lasted for days until we modified the doll, and then children enjoyed it for days. It was worth it. For the last two years we have been inside the city walls, Kotor is organizing a New Year's program at the Square of Arms, so we have the Children's New Year on the same stage." 

The New Year's program in Kotor- Rock New Year, as well as the program of the Children's New Year, primarily meet the mood and taste of Kotor's citizens. This is a good recommendation for all its guests. The town's waterfront is dressed in festive clothes and the decorations of the Old Town began a few days ago.

In just a few days, the event "From Christmas to Christmas" begins, within which the Kotor Municipality, Cultural Center Nikola Đurković, Kotor Tourism Organization and local NGOs prepare a diverse artistic, entertaining, gastronomic and tourist program. "From Christmas to Christmas" begins on 23 December and lasts until 9 January.