§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of the NATO bombing of(a) the oil refinery and bridges at Novi Sad and (b) the chemical complex at Pancevo. [100086]
§ Mr. HoonThe refinery at Novi Sad and the chemical complex at Pancevo were damaged during NATO airstrikes, resulting in immediate cessation of production at Novi Sad and severe functional damage at Pancevo. Production has now resumed and repairs are continuing.
The effect of the destruction of the bridges at Novi Sad (and the other bridges crossing the Danube) was to dislocate lines of communication in Serbia. The capacity to reinforce and sustain Serbian Forces was reduced. Road and railway traffic was interrupted, and the remains of the bridges blocked the Danube at Novi Sad. The closure of the Danube to river traffic impacted on imports, but also affected the through traffic to and from neighbouring countries and Black Sea ports.