URANIUM AND HEAVY METALS FOUND IN GENERAL PAVKOVIĆ'S TUMOR TISSUE

BELGRADE, NOVEMBER 29 /SRNA/ - High concentrations of uranium and heavy metals have been found in General Nebojša Pavković's tumor tissue, reports Večernje Novosti.

The representative of the Pavković family, lawyer Srđan Aleksić, said that results from an Italian laboratory confirmed the presence of uranium and several toxic metals in the general’s tissue at dramatically elevated concentrations, which “represents one of the most significant medical proofs of the consequences of depleted uranium exposure in the Balkans.” He added that this is “medical confirmation, black on white,” that the two cancers - of the thyroid and pancreas - from which Pavković suffered before passing away on October 20 at the Military Medical Academy /VMA/ in Belgrade, could be linked to the NATO bombing. “This is a scientifically, medically, and legally revolutionary piece of evidence. For the first time in Serbia, uranium and heavy metals have been found in extreme concentrations in the tumor of a high-ranking officer. This finding opens the door not only for his case, but also for hundreds of other proceedings,” Aleksić stated. He said that for years before his death, General Pavković had been collecting data and notes on exposure to depleted uranium, which were also part of the process of sending tissue samples for analysis in Italy, adding that Pavković had sent him a large amount of material related to depleted uranium and his field observations. According to the interpretation Aleksić received, Pavković’s findings align with previously confirmed rulings by Italian courts, in which Italy was held responsible for the deaths and serious illnesses of Italian soldiers exposed to depleted uranium in the Balkans during their service. Aleksić reminded that biopsy samples from General Pavković were sent for analysis to the Institute of Nanotechnology in Italy on September 15, and he believes that the cause of Pavković’s death and illness is primarily linked to exposure to depleted uranium in 1999, as he was in areas most heavily bombarded by NATO. The laboratory analysis of General Pavković’s tumor tissue was conducted at the accredited Italian laboratory Chimiche e Ambientali, which is certified by the Italian Ministry of Health. According to the report, uranium, aluminum, cadmium, copper, manganese, iron, and zinc were detected in the general’s tumor tissue. Forensic expert Jovica Jovanović told Novosti that a significant number of these elements belong to the group for which there is conclusive evidence of causing cancer in humans, and that their presence in Pavković’s tumor tissue exceeds critical levels multiple times. Italian lawyer for military-legal cases and victims of depleted uranium, Angelo Fiore Tartaglia, told Novosti that Pavković’s findings represent one of the most important scientific proofs in the Balkan region and point to direct contamination to which he was exposed during military operations and while in areas affected by depleted uranium munitions. He emphasized that this is a moment of great truth, as science confirms what many have tried to hide or dispute for years. “These results are fully consistent with the findings and court rulings we have won in Italy, which established a clear causal link between exposure of Italian soldiers to depleted uranium and the development of severe malignant diseases,” Tartaglia said. He stated that the presence of uranium in human tissue is not a theory, but a fact that carries responsibility, and that it constitutes evidence capable of changing the course of the fight for justice and opening the way for new international proceedings in favor of those affected by uranium munitions. Pavković’s tissue was collected during a biopsy at the VMA before the Hague Tribunal sentenced the general to life imprisonment and incarcerated him, and was sent to Italy at the request of his daughter Marija, one week before the Hague /Tribunal/, at Serbia’s request, prematurely released the general from prison in very poor health, in the terminal stage of his illness.