SEESAC takes part in SALW control conference in Pristina

A conference on small arms and light weapons hosted by UNDP Kosovo¹ on 1 March 2017 gathered KFOR, UNDP Kosovo and SEESAC representatives and enabled sharing information on ongoing activities, plans and best practices on small arms and light weapons control.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Alessandra Roccasalvo and KFOR Commander Major General Giovanni Fungo welcomed over 25 participants. They emphasized the threat that illegal SALW pose to the citizens and the importance of the ongoing work in the region to counter their illicit proliferation and use.

SEESAC presented its past work in the region on SALW control with funding from the European Union and informed on the planned activities in South East Europe under the new EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356. Senior Programme Coordinator Ms. Bojana Balon highlighted in her presentation that “regional problems require regional solutions and that success achieved so far in reducing the threat posed by SALW is a result of excellent regional cooperation, information exchange and knowledge transfer among partners in the region.”

Mr. Alain Lapon, Project Manager for Firearms Explosives Risk Minimization (FERM) Project and SEESAC’s Chief Technical Adviser, presented some of the experiences related to illegal possession in Kosovo and trafficking of firearms. He presented results achieved during the implementation of the FERM project and its contribution towards fulfillment of the National SALW and explosives control strategic objectives.

A detailed presentation was also provided on SEESAC’s work under the “Gender Equality in the Military in the Western Balkans” Project through which SEESAC supported the MoDs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the integration of gender equality in defence through regional cooperation.