Montenegro’s president nominates Djukanovic to again become premier

PODGORICA, Montenegro: Montenegro’s president on Wednesday officially nominated former, long-serving leader Milo Djukanovic to return to the premiership for another term.

“I’m convinced that (Djukanovic) will be fully devoted to the economic development of Montenegro … and the government will be devoted to continuation of the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration,” President Filip Vujanovic told journalists in the capital, Cetinje.Djukanovic will replace outgoing Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic, who resigned earlier this month due to illness. The appointment will likely be accepted by parliament, which is dominated by Djukanovic’s Democratic Party of Socialists.

Djukanovic said that the priority of his Cabinet will be Montenegro’s integration into the EU and NATO.

Djukanovic had ruled Montenegro both as president and prime minister for more than a decade before he stepped down after steering the nation to independence in 2006.

Local analysts link his comeback with the government’s intentions to speed up the privatization process and attract new foreign investors to the tiny Adriatic country with a booming economy.

Sturanovic, Montenegro’s first post-independence prime minister, was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer last year. He said the treatment required him to quit the premiership.

Albanians in Montenegro, Macedonia, prepare to celebrate

PODGORICA, SKOPJE — Montenegro’s ethnic Albanians should “celebrate Kosovo’s independence at home”.
The comment came form the president of the Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA)in that country, Ferhat Dinoša.
Dinoša told Beta news agency that the announced unilateral decision by Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians to secede from Serbia without Belgrade’s consent will cause “joy and celebration among all Albanians, wherever they live”.
Asked what sort of celebration can be expected in Montenegro, where both ethnic Albanians and Serbs form large minorities, the DUA leader said this would be “best done at home, with friends and family.”
Dinoša added this was “in effect” a call to his fellow Albanians to behave in this way.
“Albanians in Montenegro should behave with dignity as they celebrate and not cause others to feel uncomfortable,” he concluded.
As for Macedonia’s large ethnic Albanian minority, their parties have different views in how to celebrate Kosovo’s declaration of secession.While the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA), which is a part of Macedonia’s ruling coalition, sent a message similar to that of Dinoša, and urged home festivities, the opposition Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) will organize celebrations in town squares in the capital of Skopje, Tetovo and Gostivar.
“Because violence does not work in favor of Kosovo’s independence,” a DPA statement said, ” citizens are asked to refrain from incidents and shooting as they celebrate.”
Macedonia’s Ministry of the Interior said that all citizens who wish to cross the border to Kosovo tomorrow will be able to do so, and added there will be “quality control of the border on both sides”.
Macedonian police have in the last year been involved in numerous serious incidents on the border with Kosovo.

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Madonna concert in Montenegro 2008

PODGORICA - Pop superstar Madonna is expected to perform in Montenegro, according to Podgorica daily Vijesti.

The daily writes that she will hold a concert there in late August or early September during her world tour to celebrate her 50th birthday and 25-year career.

The concert is expected to take place on Budva’s Jaz beach, where the Rolling Stones played last September.

Madonna is expected to receive USD 5mn for the concert.

The daily writes that the concert was agreed upon with the pop star’s management “thanks to close ties that the Democratic Party of Socialists Vice-President Svetozar Marović has, whose idea it was to bring today’s most extrovert pop icon to Jaz beach, following last year’s spectacular Rolling Stones concert.”

“Marović convinced Madonna’s managerial team to accept Budva’s offer,” the daily writes.

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