Marking and Tracing Legislation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is in the process of implementation of the UN Firearms Protocol in the part of marking and tracing of firearms. Today the country does not produce firearms and its efforts are concentrated on fulfilling the obligations under the Protocol related to marking of imported weapons. The Macedonian authorities have developed a draft Law on Testing and Marking Firearms and Munitions.
Article 8 of the Protocol requires States parties to take measures to ensure that firearms that are manufactured in or imported into their jurisdictions are marked. The unique marking of each firearm identifies it and forms the basis on which records are kept and firearms are traced. Where a firearm is recovered in the course of illicit manufacturing or trafficking, or in some other context, the markings can be used by Macedonian authorities to search its own records and as the basis of a request for the tracing of that firearm. Article 8, paragraph 1 (b) of the Protocol requires the marking of each imported firearm with additional information. The content of such markings must enable later identification of the country of import and, where possible, the year of import.
SEESAC has selected Dr. Ilhan Berkol to review the Macedonian draft legislation and provide assistance to the Macedonian authorities for the implementation into the domestic legislation of the relevant international requirements.
Dr. Berkol has submitted recommendations for changes in the draft Macedonian legislation. SEESAC has organized a workshop with the Macedonian authorities on 09-11 September 2009 to discuss his recommendations.
