The Ministry of Interior destroyed 17,000 small arms and light weapons at the Recycling Center in Zeleznik. The major part of the weapons was illegal and had been seized in police activities, Ivica Dacic said.

At the recycling center in Zeleznik the Serbian Ministry of Interior  destroyed 17,000 pistols, revolvers, carbines, hunting rifles, air weapons and other light weapons, most of which was seized in the course of police activities.

The weapons' destruction event was attended by the Minister of Police, Ivica Dacic, UN representatives in Serbia, police liaison officers and defense attaches of embassies in Belgrade.

"A minor part of MoI's surplus weapons was destroyed, while the major part are weapons seized from criminal groups", Mr. Dacic said.

The Minister explained that the weapons, when seized, were kept as material evidence during the judicial proceedings and were destroyed only after the process was over.

The Minister pointed out that most crimes were committed with weapons in illegal possession, and that MoI's duty was to have as few weapons in both Belgrade and Serbian streets as possible.

"By doing this the Republic of Serbia demonstrates decisiveness in combating crime and terrorism, as well as the intention to respect the international law", Dacic said.

He went on to say that large amounts of small arms were one of the factors of instability and risk that the weapons might end up in the wrong hands.

"This is a problem present in the entire region of Western Balkans and Southeastern Europe after the conflicts that took place in our territory. The effects of such a huge amount of weapons are regularly felt by the citizens when crimes, accidents and explosions occur", said the Minister.

Campaign of voluntary surrender of weapons

Mr. Dacic pointed out that in the near future the police would probably launch a campaign of voluntary surrender of weapons in civilian possession that they usually do not know what to do with, so it happens that pistols are found in parks or containers.

The Minister recalled that the Serbian MoI had so far destroyed around 30,000 weapons in cooperation with the Southeastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC).

A representative of the United Nations Development Programme, William Infante, said that the cooperation between SEESAC and MoI had been going on since 2002.

The destruction activity is a part of the joint project of the MoI and SEESAC.

Mr. Infante also said that this weapons' destruction event at the Recycling Center in Zeleznik was financially supported by Norway.

The Southeastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons operates under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme and the Regional Cooperation Council.

Its mission is to further support all international and national stakeholders by strengthening national and regional capacity to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe.