18.07.2022.
STATEMENT
Regarding the numerous lies and fabrications that are being published with regard to the plane crash in Greece, involving the aircraft which had taken off from Niš and had been transporting products manufactured by the Serbian Defence Industry, the Ministry of Defence announces that the Republic of Serbia had fulfilled all international obligations and acted in accordance with all valid international regulations.
Although we have already informed the public about everything in detail, we will repeat some of the facts due to manipulation used by certain circles to harm the reputation of the Republic of Serbia:
The Antonov An-12 plane, owned by the Ukrainian Meridian LLC airline, was transporting about 11.5 tonnes of products made by our defence industry, whereas the owner of the shipment was the Serbian private company Valir. The Republic of Serbia had issued a permit for the export of weapons to the authorized end user - the Ministry of Defence of Bangladesh.
The organization of the flight, which had taken off from Niš, and was due to make “technical stops” in Amman, Riyadh, Ahmedabad before reaching its final destination in Dhaka, and the choice of the airline were not within the competence of the Republic of Serbia. Also, the Republic of Serbia is not responsible for issuing permits to fly over foreign territories, because it is a sovereign decision of each country, to which the carrier applies for an overflight permit in such cases.
As we have already stated, our country had approved the export and transport of instructional mines and illuminating mortar shells. Given that we had issued a permit for the export of these weapons to the buyer, the Ministry of Defence of Bangladesh, this was certainly not illegal trade, but export in accordance with international law.
We also note that the permit would have been issued even if it was for live ammunition or any other type of weapons, considering that Bangladesh is an authorized buyer and that the export to this country is absolutely in accordance with the law and all international regulations, because it is not under any international sanctions. We highlight this fact because Serbia is very transparent regarding this issue. However, according to the narrative continuously repeated by certain circles in Serbia, the export of weapons is allowed to everyone, including the richest countries in the world, but not to Serbia.
It is quite obvious that certain domestic and foreign circles are disappointed that the original allegations that Serbia was transporting weapons to Ukraine have been debunked, and they continue to spread new fabrications. But we are convinced that they will be disappointed again, because in this case too, the Republic of Serbia consistently respected international law and fulfilled all international obligations, and we provide support to the Greek authorities in conducting a detailed investigation and informing the public.
