Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 November 2003. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Tuesday, 4 November 2003 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans there are to rebuild the bridges at Novi Sad; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Answer: Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to rebuild the bridges at Novi Sad; and if he will make a statement. [135599] Mr. MacShane: The 3 bridges destroyed at Novi Sad during the 1999 NATO intervention have been replaced. However, one of these is a temporary pontoon structure, which will be removed on completion of a è40 million European-Union funded reconstruction of the `Sloboda' bridge, due in May 2005. The EU also contributed è22 million to the successful clearance of bris and unexploded ordnance from the riverbed, which was completed in June 2003.

Secondary information