"Blic" daily newspaper reported on Sunday that French national television "France 2" aired in its prime time news, in March this year, an 8-minute report about weapons smuggling from Serbia to France.

"We will seek an explanation and attempt to fully clarify all untruths about the alleged weapons smuggling from Serbia, which the French national TV aired in its news programme," said Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic on that occasion. He also emphasized that the entire story was bizarre and caused vast damage to Serbia. "The programme aroused much public attention and we will, therefore, ask for an explanation. The relevant Department of the Ministry will investigate the entire case as early as today, and we will devote serious attention to this matter. If proven that this was an ill-intentioned report, we will resort to all mechanisms in order to minimize the effects of the already caused damage ", Mrkic said.

He stressed that Serbia didn't need such sensationalism. "If what was stated in the report were true, how many times do you think the French officials would have contacted us in this regard. Several days ago, I met with French Ambassador François-Xavier Deniau and such an important issue was not even referred to."

At the French Embassy in Belgrade yesterday no one was available to comment on this issue. Neither F. Genauzeau, one of the authors of the report, nor the "France 2" editorial staff were available for comments yesterday.