Four million euros needed for bomb clearing works at Ponikve airport

Around €4 million will be needed to clear Ponikve airport in Uzice from aircraft bombs and explosive devices, the legacy of the 1999 NATO bombing, experts said.

As it was said at the donors conference for the demining of Ponikve airport in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Serbian government will set aside over €1.5 million for this purpose, and the intention is to secure the remaining funds through donations from foreign governments.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated that the project to transform Ponikve military airport into a civilian one can have a strategic impact on the development of economy in Western Serbia.

Uzice Mayor Jovan Markovic noted that the goal of the local self-government was to commence works on demining in 2011 so that the task could be completed by mid-2012.

Our goal is to find, with the government’s help, a strategic partner for a concession project implying the 25-year development of a freight terminal and a center for low-cost and charter flights, Markovic explained.

The donors conference was attended by representatives of the embassies of the United States, China, Slovakia, Slovenia, Norway, Germany, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, and Hungary.