"Last year, maybe a month or two after the bombing, we were told at a gathering in Vranje that there were four zones in our territory that NATO targeted with depleted uranium munitions. One location was in the territory of Bujanovac, an area of 5,500 square meters near the village of Borovac and another of 1,500 square meters in the village of Bratuselce," says Dr. Stojance Arsic, the president of the municipal assembly of Bujanovac. He adds: "We were told that there was no threat from radiation for now unless work was to be done in those locations. We marked the locations clearly with flags and signs with the symbol for radioactivity."
The Army remained silent for more than a year and it would be silent still if the first victims of "Balkan Syndrome" had not fallen in Kosovo and Metohija. On [Orthodox] Christmas Eve 2001 [January 6] at a press conference Jovan A. Djukanovic, the spokesman of the Bujanovac Press Center said that three depleted uranium projectiles had been found near Vranje (Pljackovica) on a surface of two hectares [approximately five acres]. In four locations in Bujanovac municipality (near the villages of Samoljica and Borovac) a total of four depleted uranium projectiles were found, while in the territory of Presevo municipality (the village of Reljan) a single radioactive projectile was found. All locations have been marked and soon will be enclosed by fences so that neither livestock nor people can access them. The population has been advised. When asked how, Djukanovic replied: "I assume that a notice was placed in a visible place in each municipality."
Even though the locations are not yet fenced in by a strong, stable fence, concrete posts, and wire, to protect the people and animals, it is believed that there is no reason to panic.
"On the basis of consultations with experts I can say that there is no threat of radiation unless some shepherd holds a depleted uranium projectile in his hand," said Djukanovic whom reporters had nothing to ask.
However, due to lack of timely and adequate information it has happened on more than one occasion that people not only went to those locations but also started building things on them.
"A small house was built near the RTS communications relay at Pljackovica near Vranje because at that time it was not known that this was one of the locations targeted with depleted uranium munitions," says Arsic, noting that all workers from Pljackavica "had physical examinations later on but for now there are no symptoms of illness among them".
Djukanovic could not answer the question of NIN's reporter whether the levels of radiation measured at locations at Pljackovica near the RTS communications relay and Borovac I of 5,000 Becquerels (which is one million times greater than radiation emitted by natural sources) might be lethal. Dragan Velickovic, assigned to public relations by the [Yugoslav Army] General Staff, who assumed duties in Bujanovac on January 7, 2001 could not answer either. There is also no answer to the question whether the number of locations in the Pcinj district is definite. Despite claims by military officials that all depleted uranium projectiles have been removed, NIN's reporter learned during conversations with soldiers that some uranium projectiles are still present.
"They're buried. Bring your shovels if you want to take photos of them," explained soldier Vlada Maric.
There are also some indications that at least one unexploded projectile of this type was detonated (as is normally done with conventional munitions) in order to protect the lives of soldiers removing the deadly materials. This completely inappropriate method of removing depleted uranium projectiles has only increased the surface of the land and underground waters which are contaminated.