22 February 2019 - Montenegro has created an investment environment, and an increasing inflow of foreign direct investments and enlarged Capital budget make it a good environment for bank operations, said Prime Minister Duško Marković at a meeting with the delegation of NLB Bank, headed by Chairman of the NLB Board of Directors Archibald Kremser.

Prime Minister Marković underscored the excellent economic policy results in the past two years, reflecting in economic growth of about 4.5%, reducing the budget deficit, stabilising public finance, creating jobs and reducing unemployment by more than 5%.

"In the time to come, we will work on strong investment activity in tourism, agriculture, energy, and especially in the field of infrastructure development. I believe that the banks will also see their chance of development in this," PM Marković noted.

Both sides agreed that it is important for investors to have a good and predictable business environment, as well as a reliable legal system.

Mr Kremser stressed that his bank operated successfully last year and presented further development plans of the NLB Group for Montenegro.

The meeting was an opportunity to discuss outstanding issues.

During mid-December 2018, the Board of Directors of the Association of Montenegrin Banks, which consists of the directors of all banks in Montenegro, discussed the situation in the banking system in Montenegro during an official session.

The conclusion of the session of the Board of Directors was that the introduction of interim management in Atlas Bank and Invest Bank Montenegro (IBM) did not have a negative effect on the stability of the banking system, as no significant withdrawal of deposits was made.

21 February 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković said today in Podgorica while opening the Ministerial meeting on the transition of the Western Balkan countries to clean energy, that the region's energy fully shares the basic characteristics of a single European energy, that Montenegro will even exceed the ambitious plan for the share of renewable energy sources, and that there is no giving up on ecological Montenegro.

"The issue of economic development is inseparable from the development of energy, and energy, as a strategic branch, implies a well-thought-out and long-term plan. Fortunately, the countries of the Western Balkans have a global leader as their partner in this crucial business. For decades, the European Union has set standards for sustainable development and clean, climate-neutral energy. In that sense, today's job, of the honourable ministers, is essentially facilitated. The unequivocal commitment of the countries of the region to European integration is an important determinant of long-term national energy policies and strategies. Montenegro does not have doubts here. Although extremely small, our energy system shares the basic characteristics of unique European energy. Import dependence, the challenges of environmental protection, improving energy efficiency, energy receptivity and energy for our citizens and the economy, are the issues that this and every other responsible government in the European Union tackle," the Prime Minister said.

Minister Duško Marković said that Montenegro's path is clear, adding that one of the largest solar power plants in Europe will be built in the country,

"Montenegro is already certain to reach and exceed the ambitious national goal for the share of renewable energy in final consumption by 2020. We pay a high price for this, but we remain confident that the validity of this bold commitment will be confirmed in the medium term. Initial failures should not lead us to a dilemma of whether to give up on the essentially noble idea. We will not give up on ecological Montenegro. But this also implies correction of omissions and permanent improvement of applied models," the Prime Minister stressed.

20 February 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System Milutin Simović recently hosted a delegation of the Western Balkans Chambers Investment Forum led by President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Marko Čadež, the Chairman of the Forum. 

As a regional association of chambers of commerce of the Western Balkans, the Western Balkans Chambers Investment Forum was established at the Vienna Summit in 2015 with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation, through joint chamber activity, cooperation and harmonisation of activities aimed at developing the competitiveness of the economy of the region. The founding of this Forum has highlighted the initiative for the active involvement of national chambers of commerce in achieving the concrete goals of the "Berlin Process."

The Deputy Prime Minister supported the Western Balkans Chambers Investment Forum concrete approach, which, in addition to monitoring the implementation of large regional infrastructure projects, approved by the European Commission, is dedicated to the implementation of smaller-scale projects. It expects the chamber to provide feedback from the market in a timely manner, along with recommendations to indicate to governments the norms that need to be made in order to create a more attractive business and investment environment. In that regard, DPM Simović called for regular two-way communication, exchange of opinions and consultations.

He concluded by saying that the ultimate goal of the chambers, business people and governments of the Western Balkan countries need to be reaching the level of success in which it will not be necessary for us to present the region's investment potentials, but that investors, through successful projects, invite other investors to start a business in this region.

19 February 2019 - Montenegro and Turkey have developed strong and friendly relations that could be further enhanced by strengthening economic cooperation, Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković and newly appointed Ambassador of Turkey Songul Ozan agreed at the meeting that recently took place in Podgorica.

Prime Minister Marković noted that Montenegro, in addition to its strategic priorities, is committed to developing the economy. He added that it is important to continue with high rates of economic growth, job creation and attracting foreign investment.

The increased interest of the Turkish investment companies in Montenegro was assessed as positive, and Ambassador Ozan said that Montenegro is becoming increasingly popular in Turkey, both in terms of its tourism and economic potential. She added that the Turkish companies are interested in investing in airports, agriculture, healthcare and the textile industry.

Both sides agreed that Montenegro has a constructive role in the region and that it always works towards reaching a compromise through dialogue. Ambassador Ozan highlighted the multi-ethnic and multireligious harmony traditionally fostered by Montenegro.

The two countries' partnership, as the Prime Minister said, will be further strengthened through activities in NATO, where, as allies, Montenegro and Turkey can contribute to the preservation of democratic attainments. PM Markovic emphasised that the mutual ties between the two countries are strengthened by the Montenegrin diaspora in Turkey.

"This is another powerful element that connects us and strengthens our ties," Marković concluded.

19 February 2019 - Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić met with his Turkish counterpart Süleyman Soylu in Ankara, Turkey. It was assessed that the meeting is a confirmation of the high-quality bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries.

Minister Nuhodžić stressed that the successful fight against all forms of crime requires intensive and continuous cooperation and information exchange.

"Our task is to send a message, through joint actions of the Montenegrin and Turkish police, that every criminal, every fugitive from justice, knows that they will not be able to find safe haven in either Montenegro or Turkey," said Minister Nuhodžić.

Expressing satisfaction with the cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries, Minister Nuhodžić thanked Turkey for the assistance it provides in the area of specialist training and education of Montenegrin police officers. He expressed confidence that the meeting will be an additional incentive for further strengthening of cooperation between the ministries of the interior of Montenegro and Turkey.

Minister Soylu said that the meeting agreed on the improvement of cooperation between the two ministries in the field of police affairs and expressed gratitude to Montenegro for its support in the fight against illegal migration, smuggling, organised crime and terrorism.

"This meeting is a crown of good cooperation and friendship between the Republic of Turkey and Montenegro. Montenegro's NATO membership is extremely important and, therefore, the intention of our two ministries is to further improve cooperation and jointly confront the common forces with all security challenges and threats," the Turkish Minister stressed.

"Stability and further development of the countries of the Western Balkans is very important for Turkey. We see Montenegro as an example of a multi-ethnic and multireligious harmony, bearing in mind that members of different faiths and nations live in Montenegro," he noted, adding that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to visit Montenegro in the near future.

Following the meeting, the two interior ministers signed an agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in emergency situations. "This agreement is a confirmation of mutual readiness for solidarity and cooperation between our two friendly states," Minister Nuhodžić said.

18 February 2019 - "Small countries like Montenegro and North Macedonia must act smartly since we do not have many resources and we must use the best we have. I think that is the whole logic of the Alliance. We cannot all be specialized in all issues but we can have advantages in some of them and offer them to our allies," said Minister of Defense of North Macedonia, Radmila Šekerinska, during the NATO summit held in Brussels last week.

In the conversation with Montenegrin journalists, Šekerinska said that during the entire negotiation process with NATO, official Skopje had the great support of Montenegro.

“When we got the new Government in 2017, several days later Montenegro entered the Alliance and I was invited to deliver a speech at the ceremony in Skopje organized by the Montenegrin Embassy. I said then, and I still think so, that Montenegro serves us as an inspiration and that even in the hardest of circumstances, one should think about the strategic objective. You have been through a very difficult political period, and we have even been through the violence and very deep political crisis. Despite everything, we managed to unite our state,” said Šekerinska.

She points out that her department has had very intense cooperation with the Montenegrin Ministry of Defense. They used our experience as an example. She states that the Macedonian transition will not be easy.

“Resources are required, people are necessary, we must act fast. We have been working a lot with my Montenegrin counterpart and did so many projects of bilateral cooperation and transformation of armed forces,” said Šekerinska.

Asked if North Macedonia is faced with strong Russian pressure, just like Montenegro, she said that there had been several statements made by official Moscow related to Macedonian NATO accession being an act against Russia.

“We want to be on good terms with Russia too, but our strategic objective has been defined since 1993. EU and NATO membership is our goal. We don't agree with those saying that North Macedonian NATO membership means NATO expansion towards the east. We decide about our own future but we want good relations with everyone,” concluded Šekerinska.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro

18 February 2019 - Bulgaria is willing to help Montenegro accelerate progress on the path towards the European Union in order to achieve its ambitions and become the next full member, Prime Minister Duško Marković and newly-appointed Bulgarian Ambassador Maglena Plugchieva concluded at the meeting that took place in Podgorica.

17 February 2019 - Minister of Culture of Montenegro Aleksandar Bogdanović is paying an official visit to the Republic of Hungary, at the invitation of Hungarian Minister of Human Resources Miklós Kásler. 

Ministers Kásler and Bogdanović signed a Cultural Cooperation Programme between the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro and the Ministry of Human Resources of Hungary for 2019-2021, which aims to promote traditionally good cooperation in the field of culture and foresees the implementation of joint projects between the institutions of the two countries. 

"The document that we signed today gives our countries an excellent framework for cooperation in the field of culture that will be based on the joint promotion and popularization of our rich cultural heritage, but also on the exchange of knowledge and experience," Minister Bogdanović said. 

The special focus was on cinematography, and it was concluded that there is a basis for the two countries to jointly work on the establishment of a film studio in Montenegro. Bearing in mind the progress of Hungarian cinematography, as well as the experience of Hungarian film institutions, Minister Bogdanović expressed interest in exchanging experience, which would have an effective influence on the Montenegrin film. 

The signed programme foresees the joint implementation of music activities, theaters, cinematography, visual arts, literature and translation with the emphasis on direct cooperation between the relevant institutions of the two countries. Furthermore, the programme recognizes the potential for cooperation in the field of creative industries.

16 February 2019 - At a session dedicated to NATO missions and operations, Defense Minister Predrag Bošković recalled that Montenegro, aware of the importance of designing stability and strengthening security beyond the borders of NATO, continues to give an active contribution to the preservation of global peace and security by sending its members to international missions and operations. 

The Allies agreed that NATO would continue to provide a decisive answer when it comes to the fight against terrorism, with a comprehensive approach that requires the engagement of the entire international community. It was emphasised that in the forthcoming period the work on building capacity and enhancement of cooperation with partners in order to combat these threats, thus strengthening the overall security of NATO, will be continued. 

Bearing in mind the unpredictable security environment, as well as the commitment of the Alliance to protect the territories and population of its members, the importance of preventive action on potential challenges from the territory outside the borders of NATO has been highlighted. In the context of possible threats that can come from different strategic directions, further activities were considered to be carried out to strengthen the NATO presence at the eastern borders, as well as the implementation of measures from the Framework for the South representing the Alliance's reaction to the challenges arising from the Mediterranean. 

Evident progress was noted in terms of cooperation between NATO and the European Union, which will remain an important partner of the Alliance in the following period. Furthermore, it was emphasised that the interconnection of international actors contributes to a more effective response to security challenges. 

Minister Bošković stressed the importance of intensifying NATO and EU co-operation, in order to facilitate the effective functioning of the two organizations, taking into account the mutual complementarity and the development of defense capacities in order to strengthen European defense. 

He also met with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Slovenia, Karl Erjavec.

The conversation was dedicated to continuing political dialogue and strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation in the defense and security sphere. Ministers expressed their satisfaction with the intensive cooperation that is being constantly enhanced through the exchange of experience, skills and knowledge in the area of defense and security within regional initiatives, in particular through joint participation in military exercises and in international missions and operations. Bošković and Erjavec pointed to the importance of joining the Western Balkan countries to the Alliance as a guarantee of peace and stability in this part of Europe. The interlocutors also emphasised the importance of the "open door" policy, and discussed the continuation of cooperation in the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), in Latvia, as well as in the field of aviation and cooperation between the two navies.

15 February 2019 - The 15th Open Swimming Championship of Montenegro, a sporting event organised within the official program of the 50th Mimosa Festival will be opened at the Simo Milošević Institute in Igalo on February 16, followed by the 24th International Swimming Meeting "Montenegro Mimosa Cup". This year's swimming meeting will gather over 400 competitors from all countries which were a part of the former Yugoslavia, as well as from Italy, Hungary, and Russia.

The delegates' meeting and cocktail gathering at the Institute, which will be held on February 15, will precede the competition, organized by Herceg Novi Municipality and Public Culture Institution Herceg Fest.

The opening of the 24th International Swimming Meeting is scheduled for February 16 at 4:45 pm, with the City Music and the performance of the city majorettes, while the first competitors will enter the swimming pool already at 8:30 am, when the first debrief is scheduled.

The first part of the competition will start at 9 am, which is a 50 metres women swimming race. The second part begins with the competitors’ preparations at 3:30 pm, after which a 100 metres swimming race of mixed style swimming for men will start at 5 pm.

The third phase of the program will begin on Sunday. From 8 am to 8:45 am the competitors will warm up. The 100 metres mixed style swimming race for women will start at 9 am.

Last year's winner was Swimming Club Olimpija from Ljubljana.

The event is supported by the Government of Montenegro, Water polo and Swimming Federation, Olympic Committee and numerous sponsors.

Source: Radio Jadran