On 2 February 2012, the Serbian Ministry of Defense (MoD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) officially launched a joint Capacity Development Programme for Conventional Ammunition Stockpile Management for the Republic of Serbia (CASM). The initiation of the project was marked by an official exchange of the signed agreements between Mr. Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Defence, Mr. William Infante, UNDP Resident Representative Republic of Serbia and Ambassador Dimitrios Kypreos, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia.  ... read more

The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook is a concise and comprehensive reference tool on disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control issues around the world. It provides examples of successful and tangible results achieved in the realm of disarmament. In its 35th edition, covering the year 2010, SEESAC's efforts to encourage security cooperation in the region of South Eastern Europe were listed as an example of a successful accomplishment between the regional governments of the Western Balkans. This recognition of SEESAC's efforts came as a result of a successful implementation of activities in four areas, namely:   ... read more

On 26 January, the SEESAC team met with representatives of RACVIAC - Center for Security Cooperation in South East Europe. Ambassador Nikola Todorcevski, Director of RACVIAC and Lt Col Stefan Miene, RACVIAC Program Manager for Cooperative Security Environment  met with Dr. Ivan Zverzhanovski, SEESAC Team Leader a.i., Bojana Balon WPON Project Manager and Iva Savic SEESAC’s Communications Officer to discuss ongoing activities and future opportunities for collaboration. SEESAC and RACVIAC overlap in many key focus areas such as security sector reform, international cooperation and arms control in Southeast Europe.  ... read more

On 23 January 2012, the U.S. Department of State published an overview of the dangers of poorly maintained ammunition storage sites and the importance of proper management and facility upgrades. The article entitled “Dangerous Depots” lists some of the many accidents at storage sites which took place in the period from 1995 to 2011 around the world. The article uses data collected by SEESAC to support some of its arguments.  ... read more

On 20 January 2012, another 76 crates containing 2044 pieces of small arms and light weapons were destroyed by the Croatian Ministry of Interior as a part of a larger project, the aim of which is improvement of safety through collection and elimination of illegal and surplus small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Croatia. The project is implemented jointly by SEESAC, with support of UNDP Croatia, and the Croatian Ministry of Interior.  ... read more

The Steering Committee of the South East Europe Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction (RASR) met on 17 January 2012 in Belgrade, Serbia.  Chaired by the SEESAC’s Team Leader a.i. Dr. Ivan Zverzhanovski, the meeting was attended by RASR Steering Committee members Gregor Sancanin and Blaz Mihelic of the International Trust Fund (ITF), Scott Willason of NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA), Eric Berman from the Small Arms Survey (SAS) and John Hesford representing the US Embassy in Belgrade.  ... read more

Private security companies (PSC) in Serbia employ between 25,000 and 60,000 people, estimates the government of Serbia (GoS).  A recurrent misuse of power by such companies has prompted the GoS to issue a “Draft Law on Private Security Industry” stipulating rules and regulations for private security sector companies. The Draft has been submitted to the Parliament for consideration. Over the last decade, a number of factors have created a demand for private security provision in South Eastern Europe, ranging from high crime rates, to public corruption, and a legacy of inter-ethnic distrust in former conflict areas. According to the 2005 SEESAC Report on “SALW and Private Security Companies in South Eastern Europe" approximately 3,200 private security companies operate in Serbia  of which only 400 are registered with the Chamber of Commerce as of 2011.  ... read more

This holiday season, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia (MUP), with the support of SEESAC initiated a nation-wide campaign  which aims to raise awareness of the dangers posed by celebratory shootings. The objective of the campaign is to prevent firearm-related tragedies by sensitizing citizens to the risks posed by the use of firearms. The first phase will raise awareness through posters and informative leaflets distributed at police stations and other public places.  ... read more

On 28 December 2011, the Croatian Ministry of Interior destroyed 90 crates containing 2,784 pieces of small arms and light weapons, brining the total number of weapons destroyed in the course of 2011 up to 16,329 pieces. The destruction is a part of a larger project, the aim of which is improvement of safety through collection and elimination of illegal and surplus small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Croatia. The project is implemented jointly by SEESAC, with support of UNDP Croatia, and the Croatian Ministry of Interior. The latest destruction was the twelfth such event since the begining of the effort in December of 2010 and which envisions the elimination of up to 30,000 small arms and light weapons in Croatia.  ... read more

On 20 December 2011, the Regional Steering Group for Small Arms and Light Weapons (RSG) held its annual meeting in Belgrade, Serbia.  Hosted by SEESAC, the meeting gathered national SALW focal points from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as well as representatives of the RCC, the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center and UNDP Country Offices in Croatia and Montenegro.  ... read more