Call for an Amnesty Would Help with the Collection of Illegal Weapons

The recent raid in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia, during which authorities found and seized a significant amount of weapons in the house of a man suspected of producing and selling weapons and explosive materials, provides yet another opportunity to reflect on the widespread presence of illegal weapons in Serbia.

In a recent interview for Radio Television Serbia (RTS), Mr. Ivan Cvijovic from the Belgrade Police Department pointed out that in 2011 alone, the Belgrade Police Department filed 365 criminal charges for illegal possession of weapons. In the first half of 2012, a total of 151 criminal charges were filed for the same violation.

With regards to registered weapons, there are two different types of licenses being issued in Serbia – one for possession and the other for possession and concealed carry. A permit to carry a weapon can be issued to a very small number of people – mainly members of private security companies and, in some cases, to person whose personal security has been jeopardized. This area is regulated by the Law on Weapons and Ammunition.

According to criminologist Zlatko Nikolic, the Law on Weapons and Ammunition currently in force in Serbia has given way to very good results in the fight against possession, production and sale of weapons. Nevertheless, given that large numbers of illegal weapons are still present on the market, he suggests that an amnesty for the surrender of illegal weapons should be announced by the authorities.

UNDP/SEESAC is ready to support the Government of Serbia and the Ministry of Interior in designing and implementing a collection campaign. The success of SEESAC’s recent experience in Croatia, where, in the course of 2010 and 2011, UNDP/SEESAC supported the Ministry of Interior of Croatia to conduct a collection campaign of illegal and unwanted weapons entitled “Less Weapons – Less Tragedies” is an excellent starting point.   Without the fear of legal reproductions, Croatian citizens turned over 899 pieces of illicit automatic weapons, 24,209 pieces of illicit fragmentation weapons, 1,634 pieces of legal weapons, 1,656,423 pieces of ammunition, and 813.605 kg of explosive.

UNDP/SEESAC has on several occasions successfully partnered with the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia in the past. In 2009 and 2010, in a joint effort, UNDP/SEESAC and MoI were able to destroy over 55,000 of confiscated and surplus weapons including machine guns, submachine guns, grenade launchers, carbines, hunting rifles, pistols and air rifles – making Serbia and its citizens that much safer. Additional destructions have already been planned for the upcoming period. During the holiday season in late 2011 and early 2012, once again, UNDP/SEESAC and MoI joined forces in advocating for a stop of celebratory shooting.

Such activities are funded by the European Union through a Council Decision  2010/179/CFSP of 11 March 2010 in support of SEESAC arms control activities in the Western Balkans, and within the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition.