 GOVERNMENT |
| I. Official state symbol of Montenegro |
| II. Official State Flag of Montenegro |
| III. Official name of the country |
Republic of Montenegro
| IV. Political System |
The Republic of Montenegro is a democratic, ecological and social state.
Type of democracy: Multiparty Parliamentarism
The Parliament has the legislative power, and is elected by the citizens.
In 1990 Montenegro adopted a new constitution. It established a unicameral (single-chamber) parliament called the Republican Assembly, which is elected by direct popular vote. Executive power is held by the president, elected by direct and secret ballot to a five-year term. Montenegro is a partner with Serbia in the federal government and though it has a much smaller population it has almost equal representation in the Federal Assembly.
The Government is responsible for its work to the Parliament. It formulates and caries out the foreign and domestic policies, adopts decrees, concludes treaties, implements laws.
The judiciary is independent, represented by the Constitutional Court.
All religions are given equal status and freedom in the performance. They are granted equal rights and they arrange their interior organization within the legal set up.
"Article 11: Denominations
- The Orthodox Church, The Islamic Religious Community, The Roman Catholic Church, and other denominations are separated from the state.
- Denominations are equal and free to perform religious services and actions.
- Denominations independently determine their own internal structure and religious practices within the limits of the legal system."
[The Church is separated from the state but legal relations between them, in all civilised western European countries are regulated so that the state accepts, guarantees and protects the legal and inalienable rights of the church itself (in Europe this usually means each Christian denomination: Orthodox, Roman Catholic or various Protestant ones) to independently determine "who is the church". All modern European democratic states recognise, accept and protect the church laws in this domain. The state warrants the implementation of decisions and rulings of the church courts, which practically confirms and means that The State recognises the Church.]
| V. Government, politics (as of October 2001) |
The Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro consists of 77 seats.
There are 8 political parties represented.
The government comprises of 2 major parties: DPS (Democratic Party of Socialists) + SDP (Social Democratic Party) with the total of 36 seats.
The parties supporting the government are: LSCG (Liberal Alliance) + DUA (Democratic Union of Albanians) + DSCG (Democratic Alliance of Montenegro, also Albanian party) with 8 seats.
The opposition is made up of SNP (Socialists Peoples Party) + NS (Peoples Party) + SNS (Serbian Peoples Party), occupying 33 seats in total.
| VI. The Ecological State |
In 1991 the Montenegrin Parliament declared the country to be an Ecological State in order to preserve the flora and fauna of the country for the upcoming generations. | Article 1 of the constitution says: "Montenegro is an ecological state" The country has always protected its territory and natural heritage by law. This model of preservation may be unique in Europe.
 DECLARATION ON THE ECOLOGICAL STATE OF MONTENEGRO |
We, members of the Parliament of the Republic of Montenegro, are aware that, in view of the treat to nature, protection of the identity of the land in which we live and work has become our most immediate and pressing task.
Bearing in mind our debt to nature, a source of health and our inspiration for freedom and culture, we are devoting ourselves to its protection for the sake of our survival and the future of our posterity.
We recognise that all our differences are less important than the changes in the environment we live in. Regardless of our national, religious, political and other sentiments and convictions we are fully aware that dignity and blessedness of a human being are intrinsically connected with blessedness and purity of nature.
Man and creation in him and around him are one in their depths, their meaning and denotation.
Thus the abuse of man has always entailed the abuse of nature. And being committed to the struggle for the dignity of man, we are also called upon to struggle for the dignity of nature.
By adopting this Declaration, Montenegro defines its attitude towards nature as a state policy and calls upon all the people to show wisdom and prevent an impending ecological catastrophe.
Žabljak, 20 September 1999
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO
| VII. Montenegro- Free Economic Zone |
Taking into account the need to define the macroeconomic development of the Republic of Montenegro, as well as the program decisions of the Government to take all the steps necessary in order to attract foreign capital and investment and to create the image of the Republic as a centre attractive for the international business operations, the Government of the Republic of Montenegro has been preparing the global economic project entitled "Montenegro - Free Economic Zone", within which "Development of Montenegro as an International Off-shore Center" is one of the main sub projects.
This project envisages Montenegro a new center suitable for international business operations, tourist and other services to foreign companies on top-level standards. "Montenegro - Free Economic Zone" is a system of specific regimes of business activities offering attractive surrounding to potential investors, considerable tax relief, duty exemptions, free use of earned profit, etc.
Promoting the Republic into an international off-shore center, which supposes, before all, registering and servicing foreign companies, conducting business with third countries, has presumed passing the "Law on Companies Established and Conducting Business under Special Terms", i.e. the law on so called off-shore companies.
In order to attract investors, this Law has been passed and we hope that foreign investors will show their interest to come to Montenegro and be our guests, get to know it and find their interest in building up their business here. Montenegro is a small country, but a country of open opportunities for investment and creation of such financial conditions as are necessary in order to make Montenegro a country which many businessmen would choose for both business and pleasure.
Freedom and development of Montenegro in Europe, are preserved by the contemporary civilization conditions and enriched by entrepreneurship and the work of their citizens, cooperation with all the business people by showing respect and promoting the environment as well as by openness for the cooperation with the whole world.
In Montenegro as an international off-shore center, both your future company and you, as an individual, shall have a number of advantages. |
