Eleventh workshop of the Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction

About 40 physical and stockpile security management (PSSM) practitioners from South East Europe attended the Eleventh workshop of the Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction to discuss and share good practices on progress and challenges related to conventional weapons and munitions stockpile reduction in South East Europe.

The RASR initiative has been established in 2009 by the US State Department and currently funded by the European Union under the framework of the EU COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2016/2356. It aims for a coordinated, regional approach to address the threats posed by excess, unstable, loosely secured or otherwise at-risk stockpiles of conventional weapons and munitions in South East Europe. RASR’s draws upon regional stockpile management knowledge from partners in the region and the global expertise of international organizations and initiatives acting also as RASR Steering committee members like: ITF Enhancing Human Security, NATO Support and Procurement Agency, RACVIAC - Centre for Security Cooperation, Small Arms Survey and SEESAC.

This year’s RASR was organized in Sarajevo, on 8-9 October 2019, and covered topics like disposal of large-scale ammunition and updates on new developments on stockpile management and disposal. Additionally, the participants were offered the chance to see a demonstration of the BiH's ammunition demilitarization capacities and in particular of the newly established capabilities at Laboratory for Chemical and Thermal Analysis of Ammunition.

Participants were welcomed by H.E. Marina Pendeš, Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina who along with the importance of these regional meetings emphasized the progress made from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with international support, in reducing the large surpluses of weapons and ammunition as well as in securing the storage security and safety.

Mr. Amer Kapetanović, Head of Political Department, Regional Cooperation Council also stressed the importance for the region of security cooperation in the overall process of European Union accession as well as of sharing good practices along with the challenges and needs in order to ensure strengthening of technical expertise, cooperation and confidence building throughout the region.

Read more about the Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction at: http://www.rasrinitiative.org/

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