Another 1,509 SALW destroyed in Croatia

On 16 September 2011, a further 1,509 pieces of small arms and light weapons were destroyed at the CMC Sisak Steel Mill, Croatia. The destruction took place under SEESAC's EU funded arms control programme, which supports, among other activities, the improvement of safety through collection and elimination of illegal and surplus SALW in Croatia. In Croatia, activities are implemented jointly by UNDP Croatia and the Croatian Ministry of Interior in close cooperation with SEESAC and with 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, in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition.

Under this decision, the EU supports SEESAC in assisting government institutions to collect and destroy illegal and surplus SALW in Croatia and Serbia. In Croatia alone, this project envisions the elimination of up to 30,000 small arms and light weapons. The total number of destroyed weapons in Croatia under this project has reached 9,435 pieces.