Pasković: More than half of the Soup Kitchen's costs in 2026 will be covered by the budget of the city of Tivat

The adoption of the budget of the Municipality of Tivat for 2026 provided 50.000 euros for the work of the Soup Kitchen in that city, which operates under the auspices of the humanitarian organization Caritas of the Diocese of Kotor.

On this occasion, the director of Caritas of the Diocese of Kotor, Don Željko Pasković, thanked the President of the Municipality of Tivat, Željko Komnenović, and, as he said, "all those who contributed with their support to the adoption of the budget proposal of the Municipality of Tivat."

"Caritas of the Diocese of Kotor spends between 85.000 and 90.000 euros annually for the smooth operation of the soup kitchen. The soup kitchen currently has 61 permanent users and another 47 occasional users. For a certain number of users, daily delivery of a hot meal to their home address is also ensured due to health conditions or some other justified reason. We will ask for and seek the remaining missing funds from permanent donors, socially responsible companies and individuals," said Don Pasković.

He also introduced the project of the Tivat Soup Kitchen to the German Ambassador to Montenegro, Peter Felten, who recently visited the premises in Pakovo where this humanitarian institution operates and spoke with employees and volunteers who support its work. The German Embassy also organized a campaign to purchase refrigerators for the Tivat Soup Kitchen at the end of last year.

"I introduced Ambassador Felten to the work of the kitchen, showed him what contribution it makes to the community, and how the donated funds were spent. We have excellent cooperation with local companies, schools, and socially responsible individuals who often donate the ingredients needed to prepare meals. I would especially like to emphasize the excellent cooperation with the local government and the President of the Municipality of Tivat, Željko Komnenović, without whose support this project would not have been possible to successfully implement for almost two years," said Don Pasković.

The adoption of the budget of the Municipality of Tivat for 2026 was delayed compared to the usual and legally stipulated deadline of the end of December of the previous year, due to disagreements between the mayor and the head of the local parliament, Miljan Marković (Nova), so Komnenović had to make a decision on the last day of December on temporary financing of the city for the period until the end of March 2026, i.e. until the moment of budget adoption.

Councilors of the ruling majority, led by the civic list Narod bejedjuju, finally passed the budget by a majority vote at the municipal session on the verge of a quorum last Friday, with the opposition parties DPS, SD, SDP, LP, as well as the Kotor Diocese, under whose auspices the Caritas People's Kitchen operates, which is otherwise close to HGI, having previously left the assembly hall before the budget was voted on.