11 May 2019 - Minister of Sports and Youth Nikola Janović and OSCE Ambassador to Montenegro Maryse Daviet received professors of physical education and trainers who will participate in regional training organized by the OSCE and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The training will be held from 14 to 16 May 2019 in Belgrade. 

Ambassador Daviet pointed out that the youth is a driver of the process of reconciliation and cooperation in the region. She congratulated Montenegro on expressing its interest in participating in this regional initiative, which focuses on the prevention of youth crime through educational programmes. Daviet also congratulated the participants and wished them success during their training and their future work. 

Minister Janovic wished successful training to the participants, stressing that he is pleased that sports become more and more recognised as a useful tool for the prevention of negative phenomena in society. He expressed the belief that the acquired knowledge and skills will give professors and trainers a new quality in working with young people. 

Training participants, coaches Zoran Abramović and Marko Radusinović and professors of physical education Adnan Mušović and Aleksandra Ražnatović, thanked the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, who provided them with the opportunity to improve their knowledge and ability to transfer the new skills to their colleagues in order to further jointly contribute to the development of youth through sports.

A few days ago, OSCE representatives were hosted in Podgorica by the Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković.

The Prime Minister thanked them for the assistance that the OSCE provides to Montenegro, saying that this cooperation helped Montenegro to strengthen the rule of law and build democratic institutions. By this occasion, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Miroslav Lajčák pointed out that Montenegro is a reliable partner of the OSCE that fulfills its obligations and assessed that Montenegro's progress is visible both in the political and economic and developmental contexts. 

10 May 2019 - Big research infrastructure based on the most contemporary technologies will slow down brain drain from the region that used to have intense technological development, said the Minister of Science, Sanja Damjanović on the Panel held within the fourth Forum of the EU strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian region (EUSAIR).

Damjanović presented the SEEIIST project on the second day of Forum – International Institute for Sustainable Technologies in the area of Southeast Europe that promotes regional cooperation as well as cooperation between science, technology and economy.

“The project is in good arms now, in the arms of CERN, but we need the strong political commitment of all countries from the region for its success. This project would contribute to the economic stability of the region and its stabilization and that’s why this project would be useful for all of Europe,” said Damjanović.

Circumstances in the last several decades have slowed down all the economic and scientific activities and that resulted in brain drain and made best young people leave the country.

“We must not forget that this region has a very intense technological development in the past and that were many great European-level achievements. For example, the first nuclear research reactor started working in our region in 1959, and then we had three international institutes older than CERN. At the time, Yugoslavia was one of the founders of CERN and many Nobel prize winners were from our region,” said the Minister.

Damjanović concluded that the only way to slow down brain drain and increase that trend is to provide great research infrastructure based on the newest technologies.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro

10 May 2019 - Minister of Sports and Youth Nikola Janović hosted Secretary-General of the European Cycling Federation Enrico Della Casa, Secretary-General of the Balkan Cycling Federation Marko Pročikević, as well as president and member of the Board of the Montenegro Cycling Federation, Dejan Popović and Siniša Milidrag.

Minister Janović emphasised that he is especially pleased that he is hosting leaders of the cycling federations for the first time, and that they have the opportunity to discuss the development of this important Olympic sport, stressing that the Ministry of Sport and Youth will be a reliable partner in the implementation of development policies promoted by these federations.

10 May 2019 - Bilateral relations between Montenegro and Finland are excellent, and strong and serious steps towards strengthening economic relations are especially encouraging, the meeting between Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković and outgoing Ambassador of Finland Pertti Ikonen stressed.

"Montenegro wants to continue its strong political dialogue with Finland. For us, the EU has no alternative and we will be dedicated to working towards meeting the European agenda. Thank you for the support you have provided to our country in this field and I believe that we will make further progress during the Finnish presidency over the Council of the EU," said Prime Minister Marković.

Pointing out that he is safe in the knowledge that the trend of strong economic growth will continue in the coming years, Prime Minister Marković positively assessed the participation of the Finnish company Fortum in the construction of a solar power plant, hopeful that the Finnish companies will be strategic partners in the energy sector.

Ambassador Ikonen praised the progress in the implementation of reforms in Montenegro, reiterating Finland's support to the European perspective of Montenegro and the Western Balkans. In terms of bilateral cooperation, he agreed that it is important to strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries further and welcomed the presence of the Finnish companies.

During mid-December 2018 the Prime Minister of Montenegro met with the Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilähe Prime Minister of Finland Juha Sipilä and they agreed at the working meeting, which took place in Helsinki, that Montenegro has made strong progress in the European integration process and that the process will be continued with the full support of Finland, which will take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2019.

10 May 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković hosted Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák.

The meeting assessed that the cooperation between Montenegro and the OSCE is excellent and beneficial.

The Prime Minister thanked Lajčák for the assistance that the OSCE provides to Montenegro, saying that this cooperation helped Montenegro to strengthen the rule of law and build democratic institutions. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Lajčák pointed out that Montenegro is a reliable partner of the OSCE that fulfills its obligations and assessed that Montenegro's progress is visible both in the political and economic and developmental contexts. 

Both sides expressed readiness for further cooperation in the reform of electoral legislation, with the assessment that the dialogue should be continued in the appropriate parliamentary committee, with the OSCE's readiness to provide technical support to the continuation of the dialogue.

Furthermore, the two officials discussed the situation in the region and its European perspective, while Lajčák noted that Montenegro is an example of good regional cooperation and policy towards other countries in the region.

The Prime Minister expressed full support of Montenegro to the priorities of the Slovakian presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation, especially to multilateralism and conflict prevention.

Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Maryse Daviet and Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Montenegro Roman Hloben also attended the meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Srđan Darmanović recently met in Budva with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčák.

09 May 2019 - The cruiser Marella Discovery of the British company Marella Cruises sailed into the Port of Kotor for the very first time. For the occasion, representatives of the Port of Kotor, the Port Authority of Montenegro and representatives of the Bar-based port operator in Montenegro for the Marella Cruises ships, the company Allegra, visited the newly arrived cruiser.

The Director of the Port of Kotor's Administrative sector, Snežana Jonica, and the owner and Director of the company Allegra, Mihailo Vukić, presented welcoming gifts to the general manager of the cruiser’s hotel department, Demetrios Charalambous, and kindly wished the cruiser and its crew a warm welcome to Montenegro.

Marella Discovery, which arrived at the Bay of Kotor from Dubrovnik on May 9, brought 1.800 British passengers and more than 740 crew members from over 40 countries of the world to Montenegro.

Charalambous expressed his enthusiasm for the natural beauties and cultural heritage of the bay and Kotor, pointing out that for the passengers of his cruiser, this is one of the most prestigious stations on their Mediterranean cruise, which ends on the Greek island of Corfu.

"This is a wonderful destination that offers our guests a lot of content and they are delighted with the Bay of Kotor and with Kotor as a city. The main challenge in regards to cruisers is to try to set up an adequate schedule so that there are not too many boats and too many tourists in the area at the same time. A large crowd would not be in your interest as the hosts, nor for us as operators of ships who want to have satisfied passengers," said the experienced Greek born in Cyprus, who has over 20 years of experience in cruisers service.

The Marella Cruises Company, formerly British Thomson Cruises, has changed owners a few years ago and now operates as a segment of the Anglo-German tourist giant TUI.

Marella (which translates as "shining sea" in the old Celtic language) is specialized for the British market and has six ships, of which the Marella Celebration and Marella Discovery will regularly come to Kotor every seven days. Unlike other cruising companies operating in the Mediterranean, Marella Cruises is very eager to travel to new destinations and it even opens the so-called home port stations in ports such as the Greek Corfu and Croatian Dubrovnik. Therefore, the representatives of the company Allegra and the Port of Kotor have highlighted the positive aspects and advantages that Kotor and Bar can offer them as home port stations, given the proximity of the Tivat Airport and other benefits.

Namely, Marella Cruises, as part of the conglomerate's TUI, transports British tourists from 22 UK cities to their home port stations in the Mediterranean via airplanes, where they board the company’s cruises. These planned methods of transport also create a significant benefit for the local economy of the destinations where the home port stations are located at, because they supply the ships, arrange transport for passengers and offer a range of other services. These services, as they pointed out from Allegra and the Port of Kotor, could create significant benefits for the Montenegrin economy, assuming that the British company decides that Kotor and Bar shall receive the status of their home port station.

On the occasion of the arrival of the cruiser, guests from Montenegro were able to visit the 264-meter long cruiser Marella Discovery and get acquainted with the contents that it offers to its passengers. This 69.130 ​​gross ton was built in 1996 in France as the "Splendour of the Seas" for the US Royal Caribbean Cruises company, whose fleet it belonged until four years ago when it got a new owner and a new name. On its 11 decks, Marella Disovery has a total of 918 passenger cabins, seven restaurants, seven themed bars, an entertainment centre, cinema, two swimming pools, a shopping centre and a fitness centre. The cruiser also has two special attractions - the wall for free climbing and a mini-golf course.

Source: S.L., Vijesti

09 May 2019 - Montenegro's High Court on Thursday sentenced 13 people, including two Russian secret service operatives, up to 15 years in prison after they were convicted of plotting to overthrow the country’s government and prevent it from joining NATO.

Following the verdict, the Montenegrin government published an official statement, in which they explained that “the judiciary has shown adherence to the constitutional position of autonomy and resistance to every kind of pressure and external influence”.

“Montenegro, as a NATO member, shows that it is steadfast on the path of integration and protection of European values ​​and standards,” the government commented in a pair of posts on Twitter.

Two alleged Russian military intelligence officers who were accused of organizing the overthrow of Montenegro's government coup were convicted and sentenced in absentia. Chief Judge Suzana Mugoša said the two Russians, identified as Eduard Shishmakov and Vladimir Popov, were convicted of “attempted terrorism” and “creating a criminal organization.”

Eduard Shishmakov was sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison for creating a criminal organization and eight years in prison for attempted terrorism, for a total of 15 years in prison as a partially concurrent sentence. Vladimir Popov was sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison on each of the charges. Set up to be served as partially concurrent sentences; the length of Popov’s total sentence is to be 12 years.

Chief Judge Suzana Mugoša said that the Russians provided at least 200,000 EUR for the purchase of weapons. She said that Shishmakov and Popov tried to recruit “as many people as possible to come to the protest” and try to “change the electoral will” and “prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.”

Two leaders of Montenegro's opposition Democratic Front, Andrija Mandić and Milan Knežević, were sentenced to five years each. Mandić and Knežević have vowed to fight any attempt to imprison them because, as they said during a recent press conference, “they do not accept the arrest warrant”. They also added that “difficulties and consequences will be borne by those who come after them;" all the while warning of chaos if they are jailed after the verdict was announced.

"In this politically motivated and rigged trial, the insolence, superficiality, and obedience of the Montenegrin judiciary system was exposed,” it said in a statement by the DF leaders.

Montenegro's High Court found that the group had plotted to occupy the country's parliament during the 2016 parliamentary elections, assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russian leadership.

"Each member of the criminal organization had a predetermined task and role, and in the operation of a criminal organization there was a willingness to apply violence and intimidation. All members were accountable and very well aware of their deeds, wanting them to be executed and knowing that their offense was unlawful," Mugoša explained.

09 May 2019 - The Government of Montenegro will work to improve the business environment and enable foreign investors to have all the conditions for business, Prime Minister Duško Marković noted following the opening of the MAN Truck & Bus Centre in Danilovgrad.

The value of the investment is over 2.3 million EUR, and the building was built by MAN Truck & Bus AG Munich Germany, which has 260 years of tradition in industrial production and more than 100 years of experience in the production of commercial vehicles.

"First of all, I would like to express my satisfaction with the implementation of the project of the Germany-based MAN, which represents a significant impetus to the development of Danilovgrad and entire Montenegro. Having MAN in Montenegro and Danilovgrad is indeed not only a privilege, but a good indicator of the direction our economy is taking," Prime Minister Marković stressed.

He added that this sales and service centre would give an incentive to the sustainability of this investment, as well as the economy of the entire municipality of Danilovgrad.

The Prime Minister also referred to the development of the municipality and said that in the next few years over 30 million EUR would be invested in capital infrastructure in Danilovgrad. The reconstruction of the Danilovgrad - Podgorica road is planned to get a four-lane boulevard, as well as the completion of the old road between the capital city and this municipality, which will be a strong incentive for a new quality of life in Danilovgrad and investments.

"Our economy is growing. For the past two years, we have had average growth rates of 4.8%, which is among the top five growth rates in Europe. We do not want it to be a momentum, but continuity," PM Marković underscored.

The Prime Minister said that the indicators in the first quarter of this year show that Montenegro has significantly higher growth in all sectors compared to the fourth quarter of 2018, which means that this year will result in a high growth rate.

"This means new jobs, a better and more sustainable budget and a better life for citizens. The Government will work to maintain this tempo, improve the business environment and enable foreign investors to have all the conditions for business and maintenance of its operation," the Prime Minister of Montenegro concluded.

09 May 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović met with President of Albania Ilir Meta in Tirana on the eve of the meeting between leaders of the Brdo - Brioni process.

President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović expressed satisfaction with the continuity of the high-level meetings, which enabled the further development of bilateral relations between two friendly neighboring countries.

"Montenegro and the Republic of Albania do not have open bilateral issues, and such dynamic bilateral cooperation can be used for further improvement of relations, as well as for joint support and encouragement to the reform processes in the Region, and its stability," said President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović.

Albanian President Ilir Meta, with the pleasure of strengthening friendly relations, especially highlighted the attitude of Montenegrin authorities towards the Albanian minority in Montenegro, as well as the joint commitment to resolving regional issues, which are a prerequisite for overall stability and further integration in the EU. Albania, together with the international community, counts on the constructive role of Montenegro and President Đukanović personally in resolving open issues and the process of further integration of the region.

The High officials emphasized the importance of the greater commitment and presence of the EU in the Western Balkans, which is crucial for the European perspective of all Western Balkans countries. In this context, they stressed the importance of the recent meeting in Berlin, assessing the positive agreement on the future meeting in Paris, which could result in progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, to the common good of the entire region.

08 May 2019 - Extending the tourist season in the countries of the region is one of the leading priorities and challenges in the area, it was pointed out at the fourth Forum of EUSAIR which is taking place in Budva.

Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Pavle Radulović, took part in the first day of the Forum, on the panel with the thematic subject – sustainable tourism.

All participants of the panel have agreed that many aspects play important roles in the reduction of seasonality – improving the hotel offer, better accessibility of the destination and improving the quality of the product.

One of the priorities is the diversification of the offer certainly. The development of the offer based on the comparative advantages of our destination that will satisfy different demands of tourists should be in focus.

Risks that specific regions are faced with – primarily due to the great tourist pressure – have been pointed out. In that context, it is necessary to establish a more efficient model of destination management. They also spoke about the results achieved in tourism, plans for the forthcoming period and cooperation in the region.

Žarko Radulović, president of the Montenegrin Tourism Association recently said that this year’s tourist season had started better than expected and Montenegro can already expect that revenues from tourism would reach 1,1 million EUR. According to him, this will be a record-breaking year for tourism in Montenegro. He also pointed out that tourism could manage to generate even more revenues, but some things must be arranged before that.