Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic said today that the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel from the Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinca to Russia permanently removed Serbia from the list of potential nuclear terrorism targets.

Djelic said at a news conference that this was one of the largest deliveries of irradiated nuclear fuel in the history of the International Atomic Agency (IAEA) and lasted for over a month.

Serbia was able to carry out, together with international partners, a very sensitive job without any problems, Djelic said.

He stressed that Serbia has shown to be a reliable partner to the international community for the most delicate issues such as the matter of nuclear terrorism and added that this has removed a potential environmental problem.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Technology Development said that the whole process took eight years and cost $55 million, of which $ 25 million was spent on transportation.

The Serbian budget provided 60% while the rest was donated by the EU, United States, Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, he said.

Representative of the IAEA John Kelly congratulated the Serbian government on the transport of irradiated nuclear fuel to Russia, which he described as a huge success.

Serbia has now joined by a group of countries that no longer have highly irradiated uranium on their territory, said Kelly.

The transportation of nuclear waste from Vinca began in the night between 18 and 19 November and arrived at Mayak plant in Siberia on 22 December.

A total of 8,030 units of fuel, filled with 2.5 tonnes of uranium, travelled for more than a month under the strictest security measures.