16 January 2019 - The culture, aesthetics, and traditions of China, one of the oldest civilizations in the world, will be presented to the Montenegrin audience through the Week of Chinese Culture. The program will be organised in Podgorica, from January 16 to 23, in the organization of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China.

The cultural wealth of China will be presented through three thematic units - Chinese Movie Week, National Symphony Concert and two-day Introduction to Chinese intangible heritage.

From January 16 to 22, the Cineplexx Cinema at the Delta City Mall will screen one of the best Chinese films every day at 6 pm.

The first film which was screened is the rewarded drama "Aftershock," which the audience has had the chance to watch on Wednesday. On Thursday, the visitors were able to see the film "Internal Affairs." “Youth” will be screened on Friday, while on Saturday the audience will be able to enjoy the cult film from 1993, "Farewell My Concubine." The Sunday projection is reserved for the romantic comedy "Love is not blind."

On Monday, January 21, a film that won four Oscars, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," will be screened at the Cineplex Cinema. The Chinese movie week will end after the screening of the film which was partly shot in Montenegro, "The Golden Job," which is on the repertoire on January 22.

The Chinese National Symphony Concert will be held at the Montenegrin National Theatre on Thursday, January 17. On this occasion, Chinese artists gathered in the Gansu dance troupe will enrich the program with music and dance performance, introducing the audience with the culture from different parts of China. This troupe is the creator of the masterpiece of the Chinese dance theatre called “Silk Road”, which will be performed for the Montenegrin audience.

The Chinese Culture Week will end with the closing of the two-day manifestation - Introduction to Chinese Intangible Heritage. In the central atrium of Delta City Mall, during January 22 and 23, the customs and heritage of the city of Guangzhou, the cultural centre of Southeast Asia, will be presented.

Visitors will be able to get acquainted with the process of creating many famous Chinese handicrafts, such as colourful figures made of rice, festive lanterns made of paper tape, as well as with ancient painting skills, stone carving, incense burning and tea drinking, which all have an essential place in the culture of China.

The entrance to all events is free, but due to the limited number of seats, it is necessary to reserve tickets for the institutions hosting the events (Cineplexx and the Montenegrin National Theatre).

By marking the Chinese Culture Week, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China strives to contribute to further understanding of the Chinese customs by the people of Montenegro. The Chinese Culture Week is organized as an overture to the Chinese New Year, the most important traditional Chinese holiday, which begins on February 5, 2019.

Source: TVCG

16 January 2019 - The National Tourism Organization of Montenegro and the European Travel Commission (ETC) have organized a four-day visit of the country for journalists from Brazil.

The arrangement above is the result of a prize competition organized annually by the European Commission for journalists of print media, television, and bloggers. The main award of the competition is a journey for the reporters to get acquainted with a particular destination.

During the first part of their visit to Montenegro, Brazilian journalists stayed in Budva, where, aside from the Old Town, they visited the Archaeological Museum. They were also guests of the local Tourist Organization Budva, which organised a welcoming dinner with folklore performance.

Also, guests from Brazil visited the Old Town and the Old Olive in Bar, one of the family wineries in Virpazar, and then Kotor, Tivat and Herceg Novi in cooperation with the local tourist organisations of these cities.

In the framework of getting acquainted with the offer of the northern region, the journalists stayed at Žabljak where they had the opportunity to enjoy lunch in a restaurant on the Black Lake and taste various drinks from the glasses made of ice. Also, in cooperation with the local tourist organisation, they visited Danilovgrad, the monastery "Ostrog" and the exhibition of the Art Colony of Danilovgrad.

With the inevitable visit to the Đurđevića Tara Bridge, their journey will continue with a visit to Serbia, by the practice of joint promotion of the region.

The representatives of the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro are delighted with this opportunity to introduce Montenegro to foreign journalists. This organisation aims to present the destination to foreign markets, contribute to the strengthening of the image of Montenegro as a tourist destination and better positioning, both in the Brazilian market and in the global travel industry in general.

15 January 2019 - Stefan Milošević, the 22-year-old football player from Montenegro, signed a 3.5-season contract with Waasland-Beveren. He comes from the Montenegrin the First Division FK Iskra Danilovgrad.

Milošević drew attention on himself in the first part of this season, when he scored nine goals in eighteen matches for Iskra. Now he is on his way to the club where Montenegrin national player Aleksandar Boljevic is waiting for him.

Stefan chose to carry the number 99 on his new Beveren jersey.

Milošević has officially moved to Waasland-Beveren on January 15, 2019. He has signed a contract expiring on June 30, 2022. The financial details of the contract are undisclosed.

According to the representatives of Waasland-Beveren, he has the necessary scoring power. "He was wanted in this transfer period, but Stefan chose Waasland-Beveren as the first European adventure. Of course, we are very pleased with his choice and hope to see a lot of his qualities soon, and we are doing everything we can to get him to play as soon as possible," they said in an interview for Voetbal Belgie.

Waasland-Beveren is a Belgian association football club located in the municipality of Beveren, East Flanders. They play in the Belgian Pro League. Beveren takes the 14th place in the Belgian championship, with six points more than the last-placed Lokeren.

15 January 2019 - Relations between Montenegro and Croatia are extremely close and friendly, which is an excellent basis for further deepening of cooperation, especially between local communities, concluded at the meeting held by the Mayor of Podgorica, Ivan Vuković, and Croatian Ambassador Veselko Grubišić.

The Mayor of Podgorica pointed out that Montenegro highly appreciates the fact that Croatia always had strong support on the path of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Croatia is one of the most important foreign trade partners of Montenegro. "We are pleased that we already have a solid number of Croatian companies here, as well many investments in the field of tourism," Vuković emphasized.

He stressed that Podgorica has experience in cooperation with a number of local communities in Croatia through IPA projects that are thematically diverse - from energy efficiency to wine tourism.

Recalling that the delegation from Zagreb was the first to visit Podgorica after the declaration of Montenegro's independence in 2006, the Mayor announced that the delegation from Podgorica would visit the capital of Croatia in a few weeks. He estimated that Podgorica could make much use of Zagreb's development experience, bearing in mind the enormous transformation that the city has experienced. Ambassador Grubišić agreed with this assessment, stressing that he had already spoken to Zagreb's leading people and that they were ready to share their experiences, especially in the field of tourism.

Mayor Vuković initiated the possibility of re-introducing the direct airline Podgorica-Zagreb, stressing that this would be a significant contribution to the further strengthening of the cooperation between the two countries and the two cities. The Croatian Ambassador said he was keen to discuss the issue with Croatia Airlines, assessing that it would be good to introduce a bound flight with some of the cities in the region like Mostar, Tirana or Skopje.

15 January 2019 - Strengthening cooperation between Montenegro, i.e. the Agency for Nature and Environment Protection of Montenegro, and the European Environment Agency (EEA), was the main topic of the meeting of Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović and EEA Director Hans Bruyninckx. The improvement of the system for monitoring, measuring, reporting and informing citizens about the state of the environment, as well as improving the environment altogether, were in the focus of the meeting.

Minister Radulović expressed his satisfaction with the visit of the delegation of the European Environment Agency, pointing out that Montenegro has been cooperating with this institution for ten years now. Primarily, cooperation takes place through the Agency for the Protection of Nature and the Environment, but it also includes a national network of 23 contact persons in the competent institutions in charge of observing and collecting information for reports sent to the European Agency. Radulović stressed that Montenegro had been involved in the drafting of the environmental report at the European level for the third time, which is being done every five years.

"At this moment, close cooperation with the European Environment Agency is crucial concerning closing Chapter 27. We have received encouragement that they are ready to support us on this road and appreciate our openness and cooperation, "said Radulović.

Director of the European Environment Agency, Hans Bruyninckx, stated that he is satisfied with the negotiations on further strengthening cooperation and improving the work of the Agency in Montenegro and the Balkans. "Our main ambition is to strengthen the knowledge that we must have to create sound policies and laws in the field of environment. Accurate indicators, good monitoring and reporting are crucial in moving towards a society that is greener and less affecting the climate," Bruyninckx said.

Nikola Medenica, director of the Agency for Protection of Nature and Environment of Montenegro, stressed that he sees the visit of the representatives of the European Environment Agency as a strong initiative to continue and strengthen the cooperation of the two institutions.

14 January 2019 - Secretary General of the Association of Banks of Montenegro, Bratislav Pejaković, said that the potential danger from money laundering “does exist”, but that the banking system was capable of defending any such attempt.

“We must be aware of the fact that our market is so small and, therefore, it is not interesting for some major transactions that are very visible in a small world. That we can read about some big banks from the developed countries is something we are not familiar with. However, there is a slight danger, but I think we are capable of defending ourselves,” Pejaković said.

Considering the indicators, such as deposits, liquidity, solvency, from the systemic point of view we can say that measures imposed by the Central Bank on Atlas and IBM did not affect work of individual banks in Montenegro, nor did it worsen the systemic indicators.

“We support every attempt to find optimal solutions for the recovery of the Atlas Bank and IBM bank as soon as possible,” says Pejaković.

He reminds that deposits by a client of up to 50.000 EUR are protected.

“There are several levels of reaction and establishment of sustainability of regular operation and stability of financial position of a credit institution. Bank reserve is described in the balance sheets of the bank. Apart from the quality placement of credit assets, a bank also disposes of property, and minimum reserves at the Central Bank used for maintaining the liquidity of an individual bank. What is defined as a loss and what affects the capital and solvency, does not necessarily mean that it will not be solved partially or totally, sometime in the future? What seems problematic today, does not have to be a loss,” concluded Pejaković.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro

January 13, 2018 - Montenegro is my homeland, and I will do everything to improve the economic connections of Montenegro and Argentina, said one of the most successful descendants of Montenegrin immigrants in Latin America, Federico Tomasevich, whose great-grandfather Slavomir Tomasevich moved to Argentina before the Great War.

Federico will visit Montenegro for the first time by the middle of this year. His first plan is to go to visit his grandfather's house in Herceg Novi first.

13 January 2019 - TUI UK, a UK-based travel operator, recommends Montenegro as the perfect destination to have the most amazing holiday. This organisation offers useful advice on where to go, what to see, how to prepare for a trip and more!

Beautiful beaches, lively resorts, and spectacular scenery – you’ll find them all on holiday to Montenegro, Europe’s under-the-radar spot.

Balkan beauty

With great beaches, forest-cloaked mountains and mirror-like lakes, Montenegro is certainly easy on the eye. But natural beauty isn’t all the country has got going for it. You’ll also find friendly locals, centuries-old sights and resorts that are completely geared up for holidaymakers.

Budva Riviera

The town of Budva is the main resort on the country’s Budva Riviera. It’s a lively place with a handful of first-class beaches to pick from. The old town is characterised by Venetian houses, bell towers and shady piazzas, while the newer part of the city houses swish boutiques and pavement cafés.

Bečići

A few kilometres down the road is Bečići, a modern town with a spectacular sandy beach and a backdrop of pine-cloaked hills. At the far end of the promenade, you’ll find quirky shops and al fresco cafés in the old fishing village.

Petrovac

Further south is Petrovac. It’s sleepier than its neighbours, so it’s a great choice if you want to turn the tempo down a few notches. The beach is a big attraction here – it’s a sandy number set in a horseshoe-shaped bay.

Best time to go to Montenegro

The coastal areas of Montenegro enjoy hot summers and mild winters. November to March are the coldest months. At this time of year, average daily temperatures range from 10˚C to 15˚C. Things begin to warm up in April, and the heat reaches its peak in July and August when the mercury regularly climbs up into the high twenties. Trips into the mountains offer respite from the heat. The temperature here can be as much as much as 7 degrees cooler than the coast. Montenegro is pretty wet in the winter, but summers only experience 4 to 7 showers every month, and they don’t last long.

Passports & Visas

British citizens don’t need a visa to enter Montenegro but must have a valid passport.

Health & Safety

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you while you’re away. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and National Travel Health Network and Centre have up-to-date advice on staying safe and healthy abroad.

Source: TUI UK Website

13 January 2019 - Spanish basketball expert Roberto Íñiguez is no longer the coach of the women's senior basketball team of Montenegro, announced the Basketball Federation of Montenegro.

After the successful completion of qualifications for Eurobasket, Íñiguez announced the end of the cooperation. As the representatives of the Federation explained, Roberto needs a break from big challenges involving basketball teams and national teams as well. The leaders of the Basketball Federation of Montenegro tried to keep Íñiguez as the head coach, but despite all efforts to reach a new agreement, no offer could motivate Roberto enough to stay at his current position.

Roberto Íñiguez had taken over the Montenegrin National Team in February 2017, when the Spanish specialist replaced Momir Milatović. Previously he worked with Valencia, Fenerbahçe and Nadezhda Orenburg. He was named All-Spanish LFB Coach of the Year back 2012.

With Iniguez leading the team, Montenegro made a successful result in qualifiers for EuroBasket Women 2017. With score 4-2, the team qualified for European Championship, fourth in their history.

Íñiguez said his goodbyes to his team via Twitter message: “My decision is based on the need to rest, disconnect and be with my family this summer. I just need it. Thank you DANILO, thank you, Aleks, players and all those who at some time have supported and believed in our work. TO FOLLOW THE PATH: CRNA GORA!!”

The representatives of Basketball Federation of Montenegro announced that the public would be informed promptly about who will succeed Íñiguez as the head coach of Montenegrin national basketball team.

The Montenegro women's national basketball team is the representative for Montenegro in international women's basketball competitions, and it is organized and run by the Basketball Federation of Montenegro. The team participated on EuroBasket Women four times - 2011, 2013 and 2015 and 2017, playing two times in quarterfinals.

11 January 2019 - The development programme that provides the possibility for persons to acquire Montenegrin citizenship by investments in the following three years is launched, based on a maximum of 2,000 applications.

The Decision on criteria, method, and procedure for selection of persons who may acquire Montenegrin citizenship by admission for the implementation of a special investment programme of particular importance for the business and economic interest of Montenegro began to be applicable on January 1, 2019.

The decision of the Government was adopted with the aim of developing Montenegro, i.e. with the goal of attracting foreign investments that will intensify development projects in the sector of tourism, agriculture and processing industry in the entire area of Montenegro, both in the north and in the south, as well as faster development of under-developed municipalities of Montenegro.

The model of the particular programme is GRANT + INVESTMENT.

A grant shall refer to the amount intended for development of under-developed local self-government units. The amount of the grant shall be 100,000 EUR per application of an applicant, which is a total of  200 million EUR for 2,000 applications, that being an amount that will be intended for development of under-developed local self-government units.

On the other hand, the investment shall refer to the amount intended for investment in one of the development projects from the Development Projects List that shall be defined by the Government at the proposal of the line ministries, while the amount that a legal entity shall be obliged to pay is as follows:

- at least 450,000 EUR, to invest in one of the development projects in the Capital City of Podgorica or the coastal zone of Montenegro; or

- at least 250,000 EUR, to invest in one of the development projects in the northern or central region of Montenegro, not including the Capital City of Podgorica.