Serbia: SALW Destruction in 2009
The Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia has sent an official request for assistance to SEESAC regarding destruction of surplus weapons. The first meeting on the modalities related to the destruction of surplus weapons has taken place on 30 Jan 2009. A draft Memorandum of Understanding has been sent to the MoI. The Serbian MoI has reviewed and accepted in June 2009 the text of the MoU for the destruction activity to be signed with SEESAC.
Currently negotiations are taking place to agree on the procedure for signing the MoU. Discussions are underway for the most suitable method of destruction; for the location of the place for destruction; for the identification of the number of weapons for destruction and the cost related to the event.
The joint project between SEESAC and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia for disposal of surplus and confiscated weapons resulted in the destruction of 17,000 small arms and light weapons. The destruction took place on 03 October 2009 at the premises of the Recycling Center in the Belgrade suburb of Zeleznik. The weapons destroyed included machine guns, submachine guns, granade launchers, carabines, hunting rifles, pistols and air rifles.
On 21 November 2009 SEESAC provided further assistance for the destruction of 10,000 SALW. Thus the MoI Serbia has destroyed 27,000 small arms in 2009.
