2,044 Small Arms and Light Weapons Destroyed in Croatia

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.

The thirtieth such activity brings the total number of destroyed weapons to 18,373 since the beginning of 2011.  The project envisions destruction of over 10,000 more weapons which would bring the total number to 30,000 pieces of small arms and light weapons to be destroyed in Croatia.

The implementation of the project is made possible by the financial support of the European Union. On 11 March 2010, EU Council passed the Decision 2010/179/CFSP to support SEESAC arms control activities in the Western Balkans, within the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition. Led by this decision, the EU supports SEESAC in assisting government institutions to collect and destroy illegal and surplus SALW in Croatia.