07 April 2019 - Minister of Culture of Montenegro Aleksandar Bogdanović participates in the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2019, at the invitation of UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura Al Kaabi. This year's Summit discusses the role of culture in global challenges and the impact of creativity and technology on positive changes in the world. 

At the Summit, Minister Bogdanović talked with the representatives of the participating countries about similar experiences in the areas of development of cultural and artistic creativity and creative industries and the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Opportunities for cooperation on joint projects of creative industries, promotion of cultural diversity, protection and conservation of cultural heritage and digitization were also discussed. 

The Summit is organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge of the United Arab Emirates in cooperation with global partners the Royal Academy of Arts, UNESCO, Guggenheim, Economist and Google. The summit will be held from 7 to 11 April 2019. 

Ambassador of Montenegro to the United Arab Emirates Dušanka Jeknić is also participating in the Summit. 

On the margins of the Summit, Minister Bogdanović will have bilateral meetings with UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura Al Kaabi and UAE Minister of State Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh.

07 April 2019 - Nikki Beach Hotels and Resorts will grow its portfolio to now include a total of 7 resorts, including new launches in Montenegro, Santorini and Sri Lanka.  Nikki Beach has its hotel division but also operates in partnership with Nikki Beach Hotels and Resorts EMEA on three properties in Dubai, Bodrum, and Porto Heli as well as the new Santorini property.

Under the Nikki Beach Global portfolio and situated on a private peninsula in the bay of Budva, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Montenegro will be part of a luxury private villa development. The property overlooks a marina and the historical old town of Budva, which was founded by the Romans. As the hottest resort and party destination in Montenegro, Budva attracts sophisticated travelers and the ultra-luxury yachting community. The property will house 150 rooms and suites, 20 ultra-luxury villas, three individual private beaches, a jetty, five restaurants, Nikki Spa and Tone Gym. The brand’s beach club concept, Nikki Beach, will also be integrated into the resort. Budva is a beloved year-round destination known for its crystal waters, breathtaking mountains and amazing food and wine.

“In its 20th year of operation, Nikki Beach continues to evolve as markets change,” says Lucia Penrod, CEO of Nikki Beach Global. “A year ago, we shifted our focus on reorganizing our Hotel Division and the result after one year is three new projects under construction and a deeper pipeline than we have ever had before. Our first beach resort was opened in 2010 in Koh Samui, Thailand, and after nine years, our hotel brand is ready for takeoff.”

“Our current pipeline and its imminent growth is a clear indication that the market is truly craving our experiential lifestyle concept,” says Alexander Schneider, newly appointed President of the Global Nikki Beach Hotel Division. “Hotel owners and investors are looking for sustainable partnerships that are capable of introducing meaningful and wholesome brands, which provide the true potential of making a difference in a currently opaque hospitality environment. The brand standards of a hotel management company need to translate into a tangible experience for the guest, which creates excitement, loyalty, and measurable returns.”

Nikki Beach is also celebrating 20 years in business. The beach club brand, with 14 locations around the world started in 1998 as a quiet garden by the sea located in Miami Beach. It was called Café Nikki to honor the life of Nicole Penrod, Jack Penrod’s daughter who was killed in a car accident when she was only 18. To commemorate its 20 years, Nikki Beach will be hosting a private black-tie event at its annual pop-up during the Cannes International Film Festival in May as a way to give back to the brand’s loyal supporters and to mark the occasion at one of its favorite destinations.

Source: Forbes

07 April 2019 - Budućnost VOLI has returned to the Aba League Finals! The reigning ABA League champions defeated Cedevita on the road in decisive Game 3 of this semi-final series and will be fighting for the regional trophy for the 2nd year in a row. The Blue team were down by 11 points after the first quarter, they were down by 7 in the middle of the 3rd quarter, but they managed to keep the focus and make a comeback in the last 10 minutes.

Budućnost VOLI will face Crvena zvezda in the 2019 ABA League Finals, with the Belgrade side having the home court advantage.

In the end, Budućnost VOLI has won this match thanks to two crucial defensive plays. The visitors were up by 73:71 with one minute remaining in the game, when Earl Calrk stopped Cedevita’s best player in this match Justin Cobbs by forcing him to make a difficult shot, which he missed. Some 40 seconds later Budućnost VOLI were up by 74:71, with Cedevita having the ball possession. Jacob Pullen pulled up for a 3-pointer to tie the score with James Bell right in front of him. Pullen missed the shot.

"Where to start? With the players who did everything to proceed to the finals and congratulate them from their hearts! I would also like to congratulate our numerous fans who have come, and I think that everyone now understands how much the Budućnost project is important for Montenegro, Podgorica and all these people. We did not open the match properly; we did not adapt to the criterion where an excellent game was played, and I think we made the first foul somewhere in the fourth minute. They had 11 rebounds in the first half and scored eight points. The second half was decided upon a single ball, as expected. However, I think we deserved it and went to the finals," said Jasmin Repeša, head coach of Budućnost VOLI.

Budućnost VOLI power forward Earl Clark made so many important shots for his team this evening, and eventually, he was the top scorer of the away side with 19 points.

The two sides had almost identical stats. In the end, those two good defensive plays of Budućnost VOLI team decided the winner.

07 April 2019 - According to recent research related to babysitting services published by Pobjeda Daily, there is currently only one agency that provides experienced childcare services in the whole country. This company covers only two cities in Montenegro, the Capital City, Podgorica and the coastal city of Bar.

The study shows that parents who need childcare services mostly have to turn to ads on the Internet and in newspapers, or they try to find a reliable person through friend recommendations. The same research showed that an individual specialised in childcare, a nanny, can earn up to 400 EUR a month, while the parents have to give from two to five euros for one hour of experienced childcare.

When it comes to professional babysitting companies, a large number of women and girls are interested in providing babysitting services in Montenegro, but only those who are deemed capable, with proper education and who have experience in childcare actually get chosen by the company to be their permanent employee. The cost of professional and loving childcare per hour is 4,95 EUR, while the price of the “basic package” per month is 330 EUR.

The company guarantees the satisfaction of their clients and the children as well as their employees (babysitters) to ensure that the experience exceeds expectations for everyone. Babysitters come from various professional backgrounds, and they have to exhibit a high level of professionalism, intuitive care, and inspired desire to deliver the best experience for the client and children.

The parent usually defines the duties of the babysitter and gives that person instructions related to the responsibilities of the child during the day and the content of entertainment.

In terms of internet and newspaper ads for babysitting services, there are frequent bids and demand ads related to childcare. The time usually depends on the parents’ needs (working hours, daily obligations). Price for babysitting services per hour is about two euros, the cost for one day is around 10 euros, and monthly services require from 200 to 400 euros. The ads also cover babysitters who are trained for the job - educators, pedagogues, teachers, but also those who have gained such experience by raising their children.

06 April 2019 - Students are the most important resource of Montenegrin society and the primary driver of Montenegro's development, and systemic educational reforms have significantly contributed to their better knowledge and European competitiveness of all Montenegrin universities, it was assessed during the "Ask Minister" Forum. 

Minister of Education Damir Šehović, Minister of Science Sanja Damjanović and Minister of Sports and Youth Nikola Janović spoke with about 60 students from all universities in Montenegro within the second "Ask Minister" Forum. This year's "Ask Minister" Forum was organised by the Secretariat-General of the Government, in cooperation with the Rectorate of the University of Montenegro, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Ministry of Science, within the project EU4ME, funded by the European Union, and implemented by UNDP. 

Chief Negotiator Aleksandar Drljević congratulated the students on the upcoming holiday and said that they are the most important resource and the greatest wealth of this society. 

Rector of the University of Montenegro Danilo Nikolić pointed out that students, as representatives of the future intellectual elite and the general force of the development of Montenegrin society, are vital witnesses of the adequate application of higher education programmes, scientific and development projects and cultural and sports content from the university and wider social milieu. 

Minister Šehović reminded that free basic and master studies were introduced last year and that the second generation of students who do not pay scholarship is enrolled this year, 3,541 of them. 

Minister Janović said that Montenegro's youth is the future of Montenegro, stressing that the Ministry of Sports and Youth creates conditions for young athletes and their professional development. 

As Minister Damjanović emphasized, Montenegro needs innovative ideas that will strengthen entrepreneurial culture and reduce the outflow of talents. 

05 April 2019 - The Ministry of Sports and Youth, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organised a conference dedicated to strengthening the Adriatic and Ionian cooperation in the field of youth policy. 

The conference brought together 50 representatives of the countries of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative, international and regional organisations, domestic institutions and non-governmental organisations. 

Minister of Sports and Youth Nikola Janović assessed that Montenegrin chairmanship of the Initiative, which promotes economic and social growth in the region, as well as European integration of the Western Balkans, is of particular importance to Montenegro. 

"Through the close cooperation with the countries of the region as well as the member states of the European Union, Montenegro actively participates in defining priorities that are important for the entire Adriatic and Ionian region. In all areas of common interest at the regional level, it is necessary to work diligently and consciously to improve the conditions and create opportunities for young people," Janović said. 

Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Maryse Daviet, emphasized that the OSCE recognizes the importance of working with young people and the significant role they play in building a peaceful and secure environment. 

For the first time, the Conference gathered representatives in charge of youth policy in member countries of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative, to intensify cooperation in the mentioned area. 

"Montenegrin chairmanship of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative has been very successful, and I would like to congratulate you on the efforts you are making in developing partnerships with all the countries of the region," Ambassador Fabio Pigliapoco stressed. 

Janović concluded that this event was an opportunity to discuss key challenges and achieved results, as well as to exchange experiences among the countries of the region regarding the improvement of the position of youth.

06 April 2019 - The Montenegrin Olympic Committee is entering the final stage of preparation for the Games of the Small States of Europe 2019, which will be held in Montenegro from May 27 to June 1.

Over 900 athletes from nine countries will compete in ten disciplines, and the competitions will be held in Budva, Bar, Podgorica, Cetinje and Tivat.

Representatives of all national Olympic Committees - Heads of Mission, as well as members of the Technical Committee of the Games of Small States of Europe, are currently on an official visit to Montenegro in order to assess all the facilities in which the competitions will be held as well as the accommodation capacities. The aforementioned representatives will receive all other necessary information about the organization of the first multi-sport competition and the most massive sports events ever held in Montenegro.

"I think that our guests are extremely pleased with what they have seen so far, the facilities we have and the conditions in which we will welcome them at the end of May," said Predrag Marsenić, the Sports Director of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee.

"The basketball hall in Bar is great and the pool as well. A small problem has been determined in relations with the athletic track, but everything will be corrected in due time, I'm positive. We are eagerly waiting for the games to start. We are sending 50 athletes and we hope that we will return with medals, "said Jordi Orteu, representative of the Andorran Olympic Committee.

Olga Piperidou, a representative of The Cyprus Olympic Committee, is convinced that Montenegro would be a good host. "We see a great desire of Montenegrin Olympic Committee representatives to get everything ready in time, and based on what we have seen so far; they will succeed in making this a great event. We look forward to coming here shortly, and I believe that Cyprus will have a good team ready to compete on a high level, "she said.

The Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) are an Olympic, multi-sport competition featuring athletes from the small countries of the European continent. Since 1985, the GSSE have been held every two years and are currently bringing together nine countries: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, San Marino, Malta, Monaco, Cyprus and Montenegro.

For competitors from these countries, this is a manifestation of great prestige, but also a real sport festival - the Olympic Games for small countries.

"We are particularly proud of the fact that, for the first time ever, the swimming competition within the Games of the Small States of Europe 2019 will be qualifying for the Olympic Games in Tokyo," emphasized Marsenić.

Games are organized according to the rules of international federations, with the support of the European Olympic Committee. The organization of the Games of the Small States of Europe in Montenegro is based on a concept of an Olympic, functional, cost-effective and safe athletic competition with great international importance; one which will ensure a one-of-a-kind athletic event to its participants.

GSSE Montenegro 2019, organized by the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, gets underway on May 27, 2019!

06 April 2019 - Montenegro made a historic success by finding itself among the 32 teams bound for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be held in China from August 31 to September 15.

One of the key the contributors to this accomplishment is Bojan Dubljević.

In an interview for the Onogošt News Agency, the Montenegrin Centre said that he was surprised by the qualification for the World Cup. "I was more than surprised. No one believed in us, especially after the first match with Spain. The players left their heart on the field during the qualifications, and one of the key games was played in Slovenia when we were quite weakened as a team but still managed to beat the Slovenes. That was practically our ticket to China! We have achieved a historic success as a team and every player who took part in the team, from the first day to the last match, is responsible for that. Of course, we show great appreciation for the professional staff who did a great job," said Dubljević for Onogošt.

"The Red Team" will play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 with tough rivals and national teams that are regular participants of the World Cup, so they have to be prepared to take on unpredictable opponents.

Montenegro will play its first game against Greece, after which the national team will face New Zealand. At the end of the group competition, they will play against Brazil. "The group is extremely difficult, I don’t think we got off easy as we expected, but it is the World Cup and anything can happen. It is up to us to present Montenegro in the best way possible," said the long-time player of Valencia Basket who featured in the FIBA EuroBasket teams of 2013 and 2017.

Generally speaking, taking part at FIBA EuroBasket in 2011, 2013 and 2017 were tremendous accomplishments for Montenegro, yet making it through a grueling and at the same time exciting World Cup Qualifiers campaign to be a part of the 32-team field in China is exceptional.

"The credit goes to amazing guys, coaches, the atmosphere... I don't know if anyone can be prouder than me in the whole world. Thanks to the fans, they are the best in the world. Come with us to China," said Dubljević, inviting all the fans to support their team during the Cup.

Montenegro will be the country with the smallest population that plays at the World Cup.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Draw, presented by Wanda, takes place in Shenzhen, one of the competition's eight host cities, on Saturday, March 16.

05 April 2019 - Podgorica is working on creating a new image of the city, and the local government representatives are primarily dedicated to enhancing the green fund, with the ambition for the Capital of Montenegro to be among the greenest cities in Europe. These conclusions were brought forth by the Deputy Mayor of Podgorica, Slađana Vujačić, at the Summit of Capital City Mayors of South East Europe, held April 5 and 6 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to Deputy Mayor Vujačić, it is of great importance for the city to emphasize its “green face”, and the local government is trying to find creative ways for the citizens to be fully involved in these processes. “We are working on the revival of forgotten urban spaces, developing alternative forms of traffic, creating new manifestations that bring together our fellow citizens and increase the interest of tourists, "she said.

As they said, they are also working on the realization of capital projects. "The most important among the capital projects are related to wastewater treatment, the supply of the boulevard approaches to the city from all sides, the project of converting biogas from the landfill into the electricity and the construction of a solar power plant. One of the projects I also have to highlight is the primary waste selection project. In the field of sports, we’re planning on building a tennis academy, reconstruction of the Small Sports Stadium, as well as building a national football stadium, "Vujačić added.

Deputy Mayor also stressed that the local government wants to address one of the biggest challenges in Podgorica - the problem of public transport, as well as the revival of the city centre.

"We will build an expo centre, shopping malls, an aquarium park, as well as more hotels in different parts of the city. Also, we have established business zones where investors are afforded benefits - Industrial Zone A, Agro-Industrial Zone, and Service-Storage Zone,” Vujačić explained.

The conclusions of the Summit also included the fact that Podgorica is a city attractive to investors, as it offers different models of cooperation, such as private-public partnership, foreign direct investment, and investments through the new ESCO method. The city also struggles with the unemployment problem, and so the local government launched projects such as the Business Incubator, the Centre for Competence and others aimed at motivating people to start their own business.

Deputy Mayor is convinced that with projects that Podgorica plans to realize in the forthcoming period, the city will be even faster to develop for the benefit of all citizens and their better future.

Summit of Mayors of South East Europe Capital Cities was launched to bring the major cities of the region closer together, working together to promote tourism potential, protect cultural heritage, develop the concept of smart cities and urban development, as well as the use of EU funds. Organizers of this event took into consideration that the major cities are becoming more and more important in global politics, have great potential for development, are easier to connect, are leaders in the field of energy, have similar challenges and goals, and in general, they are the generators of positive processes in the region.

05 April 2019 - The pro-Western president of Montenegro, who has defied Russia to steer his small country into NATO, has warned that the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is crucial for the bloc to protect itself from growing Russian and Chinese political and economic influence in the region.

Milo Đukanović told The Associated Press in an interview that Britain’s chaotic divorce from the EU and other crises in the bloc seem to have diminished the union’s enthusiasm to accept new members, but that Europe must not hand over the strategic region to other global players.

Đukanović said Russia and China have legitimate interests in the Balkans, where Russian political influence has grown, especially in neighboring Serbia. China, meanwhile, has spent heavily on infrastructure to increase its clout in central and Eastern Europe.

“But the question is not whether Russia, China or a third country have their interests in the Balkans. The question is why Europe is handing over that region to anyone else,” Đukanović said. “I believe this is primarily Europe’s interest.”

Đukanović insisted that if the Balkan countries — which went through a series of wars in the 1990s’ and are still lagging in reforms needed for EU entry — remain outside EU’s grasp, the bloc’s future would be jeopardized.

“The alternative is the destruction of Europe,” Đukanović said. “I think that Europe must protect itself from that destruction and must recognize its strategic interests.”

After joining NATO in 2017, Montenegro is the next in line to join the EU, with 2025 slated as the earliest possible date for entry. Serbia too could participate by 2025, while Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Bosnia have not yet reached that level of pre-entry negotiations.

However, France and some other EU states have voiced skepticism even about those dates in the wake of the turbulent British split from the bloc, warning that Europe must first deal with its problems before it can expand.

Đukanović insisted that the EU should pursue its enlargement policies regardless of the crisis.

“We must not treat this issue as a Montenegrin issue, or a Balkan issue, we must treat it as a European issue,” he warned. “There is no better consolidation of the European Union than its further unification.”

Đukanović, a veteran politician who has ruled Montenegro for 30 years, cited an alleged attempted coup in 2016 in Montenegro that he said was orchestrated by Russia’s military secret service as an example of Moscow’s “destructive” policies in the region.

Đukanović said, “there is no doubt” that Russia has been trying to prevent the Western Balkan nations from entering NATO. He said it is “clear” that Moscow has “destructive policies toward the EU, toward Europe’s unification and the Western values in general.”

Foreign powers, Đukanović suggested, are also playing a part in recent protests in Montenegro that seek his ouster from power over corruption allegations.

“A strategic political and cultural battle is still being fought in the Balkans,” he said.

Đukanović expressed hope that once resolved, the Brexit crisis will boost Europe’s unity rather than undermine it.

“Perhaps this experience with Brexit will strengthen the European Union,” said Đukanović. “I don’t see another European Union member rushing to repeat the British adventure.”

“It turns out that it is hard to enter the EU, but it’s even harder to leave,” he said.

Source: Associated Press