Cooperation of Relevant Authorities on Creating Conditions for Safe Infrastructural Development of Ponikve Airport as Regards Protection Against
Explosive Remnants of War
On the 29th March 2021, in the premises of the Mine Action Centre of the Republic of Serbia, a meeting was held with representatives of the Ministry of Defense – General Headquarters, Ministry of Interior - Sector for Emergency Management, Airports of Serbia Ltd. Niš, as well as Public Company "Ponikve Airport", Užice, regarding the available information and documentation referring to search and clearance of the areas from explosive remnants of war (ERW) remaining after the 1999 NATO bombing of the Ponikve Airport complex, which were conducted in the previous period.
During the meeting, the representatives of the relevant authorities have discussed the status of the remaining areas suspected to be contaminated with ERW, in terms of type and scope of contamination, as well as adequate clearance methods at certain depths depending on type of works.
Given that the Government of the Republic of Serbia will invest 300 million dinars in Ponikve Airport this year in order to finally use this airport for commercial purposes and the restoration of the remaining part of the runway is forthcoming, so that the entire runway in the length of 3,087 meters will be put into operation and a new lane with a parking platform for aircrafts will be built, in order to enable the safe execution of planned works, preconditions must be created in terms of protection against ERW.
The participants have agreed that the cooperation of all relevant authorities from the aspect of their scope of competence is necessary for the successful implementation of set goals.
