The person instrumental in shaping India Montenegro ties is Dr Janice Darbari, a Delhi- based author has been selected for the position of Honorary Consul General for Republic of Montenegro in New Delhi. Darbari, who also contested the LokSabha polls in 1999 and 2004 from South Delhi, was appointed as the Special Representative Emissary of the Republic of Macedonia to India in 1993. She also played key role in establishing formal diplomatic relationship with Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (FYRO) in 1995. The Republic of Montenegro honored her with the designation of Honorary Consul General Head of Mission for the Republic of Montenegro in India in 2007. After that the Indian government on its part recognized Darbari as the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Montenegro in New Delhi with immediate effect from January 1, 2008
Q.Montenegro is a gateway to Europe; surely it can sell its strategic location to the world looking for political, business and cultural integration with European union. How Montenegro government plans to market this advantage?
A: National Geographic Traveler features Montenegro among the “50 Places of a Lifetime”, and Montenegrin seaside Sveti Stefan was used as the cover for the magazine. The coast region of Montenegro is considered one of the great new “discoveries” among world tourists. In January 2010, The New York Times ranked the Ulcinj South Coast region of Montenegro, including Velika Plaza, Ada Bojana, and the Hotel Mediteran of Ulcinj, as among the “Top 31 Places to Go in 2010” as part of a worldwide ranking of tourism destinations.Montenegro was also listed in “10 Top Hot Spots of 2009” to visit by yahoo Travel, describing it as “Currently ranked as the second fastest growing tour-ism market in the world (falling just behind China)”. It is listed every year by prestigious tourism guides like Lonely Planet as top touristic destination along with Greece, Spain and other world touristic places.
Q. with a total of 1.6 million visitors, the nation is the 36th (out of 47 countries) most visited country in Europe. Surely, the country must address the opportunity to tap global tourist potential to be the top ten destinations in Europe to enhance the revenue, your take?
A. The Government of Montenegro has set the development of Montenegro as an elite tourist destination a top priority. It is a national strategy to make tourism a major contributor to the Montenegrin economy. A number of steps were taken to attract foreign investors.
Q. Apart from the tourism, kindly indicate the core sectors wherein global business community can focus on to invest in Montenegro?
A. Information Technology, Higher Education, BPO/KPO, Banking, Insurance are the sectors wherein international investors can tap entire European market while setting up base in Montenegro.
Q. Montenegro has a multi religious society, though the recent threat from rouge ideology emanating from middle east Montenegro has any danger to tackle with the ominous problem?
A. Montenegro has been historically at the crossroads of multiculturalism and over centuries this has shaped its unique form of co-existence between Muslim and Christian population. Montenegrin have been, historically, members of the Serbian Orthodox Church (governed by the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral), and Serbian Orthodox Christianity is the most popular religion today in Montenegro. The Montenegrin Orthodox Church was recently founded and is followed by a small minority of Montenegrin’s although it is not in communion with any other Christian Orthodox Church as it has not been officially recognized.
During the intensified tensions between religious groups during the Bosnian War, Montenegro has remained fairly stable, mainly due its population having a historic perspective on religious tolerance and faith diversity. Religious institutions from Montenegro all have guaranteed rights and are separate from the state. The second largest religious denomination religion is Islam, which amounts to 19% of the total population of the country. The Islamic religious life in Montenegro is organized by the Islamic Community of Montenegro. [citation needed] One third of Albanians are Catholics (8,126 in the 2004 census) while the two other thirds (22,267) are mainly Sunni Muslims ; in 2012 a protocol passed that recognizes Islam as an official religion in Montenegro, ensures that halal foods will be served at military facilities, hospitals, dormitories and all social facilities; and that Muslim women will be permitted to wear head- scarves in schools and at public institutions, as well as ensuring that Muslims have the right to take Fridays off work for the Jumu’ah (Friday)-prayer. There is also a small Roman Catholic population, mostly Albanians with some Croats, divided between the Archdiocese of Antivari headed by the Primate of Serbia and the Diocese of Kotor that is a part of the Church of Croatia.
Q. what is the road map planned to consolidate bilateral ties between India and Montenegro?
A. Our priority is to set up direct flight between India and Montenegro. It will fast track the people to people relations leading to greater business activities.
Q. Montenegro is part of NATO; however the relevance of NATO is diminishing in the new world order. How your country is bracing itself from the new reality?
A. NATO is relevant in the present world and Montenegro will remain committed to the objective of the NATO.
Q. there is a massive competition between the various emerging countries to model themselves as the knowledge economy, how your government is bracing to the new reality of the world?
A. Montenegro leadership is aware of the importance of knowledge economy and our government is building up the necessary infrastructure to address the issue. We are fortunate to have a solid physical and digital infrastructure in the country and the focus is there to improve the technical education for capacity building. We have a strong economy and steadily, our government is promoting knowledge industry by inviting global experts and investors. Surely, Montenegro strategic location being the gateway to Europe adds to the entire push of the government.
Article & Interview conducted by Prashant Tewari
OpinionExpress.In
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