Press Releases 2005
U.S. Funds Royal Theater Reconstruction, Civic Education Project in Cetinje
June 8, 2005
On Friday, June 10, U.S. Consulate Podgorica’s Principal Officer, Hoyt Yee, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Montenegro’s Officer in Charge, Joe Taggart, President of the “Zetski Dom” Theater Council, Svetislav Pule Vujović, Assistant to the Minister of Culture and Media, Predrag Malbaša, and International Relief and Development (IRD) Acting Chief of Party, Ljubomir Jandrijašević, will formally mark the completion of the reconstruction of Montenegro's first theater, the Royal Theater “Zetski Dom," established in 1888.
The “Zetski Dom” roof and façade reconstruction was funded by the Government of Montenegro and the American people through USAID via the Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program implemented by IRD. The project was initiated and supported by Community Action Committees in Cetinje that work within the CRDA program to identify and articulate the needs of their communities. USAID invested approximately $62,000 in the reconstruction. “Zetski Dom,” with support from the Government of Montenegro, provided an additional $96,500 for the project.
Also on Friday, June 10, Principal Officer Yee will participate in the promotion of the “Citizen’s Handbook” produced by the project “Civic Education and Capacity Building” at an event in the High School in Cetinje. This project was initiated by the NGO “Civic House,” and was funded by the people of the United States through the Consulate’s Democracy Commission Small Grants Program.
“Civic Education and Capacity Building” helped citizens to actively participate in the development of an open society, strengthened cooperation between NGOs, political parties and local authorities, and promoted self-sustainability in the NGO sector. From September 1, 2004 to March 1, 2005, over 200 civil servants, representatives of political parties and NGOs, and other citizens attended civic education courses on various topics, including parliamentary democracy, human rights, civil society, media, business and a free market economy.
Journalists interested in covering the inauguration of the reconstructed Royal Theater “Zetski Dom” should be in front of the Theater, in Cetinje, on Friday, June 10 at 10:50. Those interested in covering the promotion of the “Citizen’s Handbook” should be at the High School no later than 11:50 on the same day.
For more information on the U.S. Government’s programs in Montenegro, please visit the Consulate's web site at http://podgorica.usconsulate.gov/