Regional PSSM Course for SEE MoDs in Belgrade

SEESAC is organizing the Regional Course on Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition on 11 – 15 July 2016 in Belgrade, Serbia. The course is gathering 24 participants from Ministries of Defence (MoDs) of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia tasked with managing stockpiles. After two courses for the region’s Ministries of Interior, this is the first PSSM training that SEESAC is holding for the region’s MoDs.

Head of Group for Ordnance, Aviation Ordnance, Propellants and Chemicals in the Armament and Military Equipment Resources Section in the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia Col. Zoran Jarić and SEESAC Coordinator Dr. Ivan Zverzhanovski welcomed the participants.

The PSSM Course is part of Component 1 of SEESAC’s EU-funded EUSAC project, aiming to reduce the threat posed by the spread and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition through capacity development of personnel in charge of handling stockpiles. Complementing the efforts to increase security of storages through infrastructure improvements implemented under the same component of the EUSAC project, the goal of the course is to further strengthen the capacities of MoD personnel in charge of managing and safeguarding stockpiles of SALW and their ammunition – with a specific focus on the security of stockpiles.

The participants will learn about theoretical and practical aspects of securing storages of SALW and their ammunition in accordance with the International Small Arms Control Standards. The course covers topics on design and evaluation processes, threat assessment, target identification, etc.  The training is delivered by instructors from GEODE Experts, an international organization with expertise in training and specialized assistance in the field of stockpile management of weapons and conventional ammunition.

Earlier this year, SEESAC held an advanced Regional PSSM Course for 23 representatives of Ministries of Interior and Police Services from South East Europe (SEE) who already attended the basic PSSM course held by SEESAC in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2015.   
 

EU SUPPORT OF SEESAC DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE (EUSAC) 

The European Union entrusted SEESAC with the implementation of a series of region-wide activities in the period 2014 – 2016 through EU COUNCIL DECISION 2013/730/CFSP. The regional course is part of Component 1 of the resulting EUSAC Project (EU Support of SEESAC Disarmament and Arms Control Activities in South East Europe) which is an integral part of the SEESAC SALW Control portfolio.

EUSAC marks a continuation of the trust placed in SEESAC by the EU since 2002. The Union previously supported SEESAC through Council Decision 2002/842/CFSP, extended and amended by Council Decisions 2003/807/CFSP and 2004/791/CFSP. Most recently, the Union supported SEESAC arms control activities through Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP. 

Designed in close cooperation with national authorities, the EUSAC project works on the following five interrelated streams of activities:

  • Increased security of stockpiles: through the renovation and security improvements to storages of arms and ammunition.
  • Stockpile reduction: through the destruction of surplus arms and ammunition held in storages.
  • Improved marking, tracing and registration of SALW: through the provision of support to the establishment or enhancement of existing weapons registration and record-keeping systems.
  • Improved regional cooperation on awareness raising, information sharing and knowledge transfer: through the facilitation of regional cooperation between national institutions tasked with arms control.
  • Implementation of collection and awareness raising campaigns.
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