A residential building for dozens of employees of the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) has been built, and will be fully prepared by the beginning of September, said the president of the Public Service Council, Veselin Drljević.
According to him, the meters in that building have already been installed.
"By September 1st, the building will be fully prepared... We could count on distributing solutions to employees who received apartments in that building by mid-September," said Drljević at today's Council meeting.
The session was attended by new members Janko Ljumović and Nikola Tatar, as well as Marijana Camović Velicković, who is back on the Council. Members of the Commission for the Distribution of Apartments were also at the session.
Milić: Ten complaints about the allocation of apartments
The representative of the legal department of the Public Service Broadcasting Company, Balša Milić, pointed out that ten objections to the allocation of apartments had been received, and that they were currently being decided upon.
"Two of the complaints are definitely justified, and the others had certain technicalities... What the Council needs to decide is what would be the fairest and most painless for it and RTCG itself."
Council member Marijana Camović Velicković said that the body got tangled up in the apartment distribution procedure.
"From all the material we received, I don't know what to do next. Mr. Asanović, because he is your lawyer and because he represents another media outlet, should not be engaged. The lawyers have different opinions, none of them are concrete," she said, asking why the construction of the building is "so late" and what the problem is with the objections.
New member of the Public Service Council Janko Ljumović asked whether the Commission "decided on these complaints at all."
"I believe it is logical for us to take the position, or rather the scenario that proposes the best. I do not understand why these objections were not decided upon," he said.
Filip Lazović, also a member of the RTCG Council, suggested that this agenda item be used to bring the issue closer to them.
Drljević reminded that they had a total of about 40 complaints about the ranking list for the allocation of apartments.
General Manager Boris Raonić said that the contractor will invoice the building to RTCG, which, according to him, would affect liquidity.
"It is important that there is a fair process. I think that, from the opinion, it is evident. My request to you is, so that liquidity is not jeopardized, that the next session when this is decided upon be held in a shorter period of time," Raonić assessed.
As "Vijesti" previously wrote, in February this year, RTCG published a preliminary ranking list for resolving employees' housing needs, according to which 90 workers should receive real estate on favorable terms, for 705 euros per square meter.
Camović Velicković: It is unnecessary to spend money on Eurovision
New Council member Nikola Tatar said he would abstain from voting on the Rules on the Procedure for Selecting Compositions for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
"That's short-lived. I would suggest creating a festival where the full affirmation of Montenegrin groups and singers would take place. It would have a better effect. I'm not musically savvy, but I've taken a stand. I'm neither for nor against. I'll abstain on this issue," Tatar said.
Camović Velicković said she was against "going to Eurovision 2026." She considered it unnecessary to spend money and criticized last year's Montesong event.
Ljumović replied that participating in European competitions is important. He said that working on projects like this is important.
"It is clear that Eurovision is organized in such a way that public broadcasters are the only possible producers of the competition... I believe that, regardless of all trends, our absence from that competition is an admission that we are not capable."
Raonic said that Montenegro's participation in this year's Eurovision Song Contest is not in question, but rather the way in which the country will select its representative.
"Our budget for Eurovision is at least ten times smaller than all other public services. Almost half of the money comes from donors...", he said.
Four members of the Council voted for the Regulation - three were in favor, and one abstained. Camović Veličković did not vote.
Camović Velicković: The Council's jurisdiction was handed over to a fictitious Ethics Committee
Camović Velicković said that it is not written anywhere how long the term of office of the members of the Ethics Committee lasts. She emphasized that she is not against the code of ethics or respecting the rules.
"Now you have invented the Ethics Committee and handed over the Council's jurisdiction to it. I am not against someone deciding on disciplinary proceedings for violating the code, but I am against this body leading it. By establishing it, you have humiliated the RTCG Council," she said.
Raonic said that he does not like the fact that the code of ethics is being talked about as if it will harm workers' rights.
"The Code of Ethics exists in numerous institutions. Its position within the Public Service is very clear. It will not be just any tool, but a body made up of professionals who fight to maintain professional standards within the house. The sentences that no one is capable of forming a code of ethics do not hold true... We have top professionals in this house and I think we could find a good number of people who could perform the function of the Ethics Committee. No rational person will say that it should not exist," said the Director General of RTCG.
Tatar agreed with Raonic regarding the members of the Ethics Committee, that they should be from the Public Service Broadcasting Service.
Ombudsman Ivan Ivanović said that there had been only one objection since the previous Council session.
Camović Velicković said that the institution of the Ombudsman in the Public Service "should come to life", and that it should be presented to the public.
"Self-regulation in the media should be promoted and should start with the Public Service Broadcasting. It's a shame it doesn't start with it," she added.
Ljumović said that the ombudsman should be personalized, and that communication between citizens and them should be encouraged.
Bonus video:
