Croatia: Police melt down 2,515 handguns and rifles as part of SEESAC project

President Ivo Josipović threw a symbolic first rifle into a cauldron at the CMC Sisak Steel Mill today, marking the first public destruction of small arms in Croatia under the EU Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP of 11 March 2010 in support of SEESAC arms control activities in the Western Balkans, in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition. The event, organized by the Ministry of Interior and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), destroyed 2,515 handguns and rifles collected as part of the 'Less Arms - Less Tragedies' campaign.

"Each illegal weapon that is collected means one life saved. It means one fewer armed robbery of a bank or market, and one fewer attack on police officers," said Josipović. "We are not doing this because we have signed agreements that oblige us to do this, but for the general good," he stressed.

Since the campaign started in September 2007, Croatian citizens have voluntarily surrendered 55,339 small arms and explosive devices, nearly 2 tons of explosives and 1.8 million rounds of ammunition. On an average day, said Minister of Interior Tomislav Karamarko, citizens turn in four guns, 40 explosive devices, 1,500 pieces of munitions, and 1.5 kilos of explosives.

"The numbers are impressive, but what is really important here is saving human lives," said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. "Our simple equation is this: every weapon brought out of hiding from a barn, a basement, or an attic is one less tragic injury or death." The main message, she added, was the Biblical admonition to "beat swords into plowshares."

Paul Vandoren, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Croatia, praised activities under the project called the event a further sign of the country's good partnership with the EU and offered fresh support in reaching EU benchmarks on stockpile management.

Oliver Grbić, Head of the Croatian Police, also attend the event. Gerhard Bunemann, CMC Sisak First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, was the host. Members of the diplomatic community observed the destruction.

The Sisak event is the first in a series of destructions that are expected to eliminate up to 30,000 small arms and light weapons by the end of 2011.