Certificates awarded to Experts from Serbia’s MoI after completing PSSM Course

Certificates were awarded on 24 February 2017 to 25 practitioners from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of the Republic of Serbia who completed a week-long course in Armament and Ammunition Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM), funded by the Government of the United States – Department of State, Political – Military Affairs Bureau, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement and organized by UNDP SEESAC.

Mr. Željko Veselinović, Deputy Head of the Sector for Assets and Finance Affairs, Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia, Ms. Amy Hood, Deputy Political Chief at the United States Embassy in Belgrade and Ms. Bojana Balon, UNDP SEESAC Senior Programme Coordinator addressed the participants during the certification ceremony.

Deputy Head of the Sector for Assets and Finance Affairs in the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia Mr. Željko Veselinović thanked the organizers for holding the course. “The course is only the beginning because the job of the participants is not an ordinary one, but is very complex and carries a lot of responsibility, just like this course “, he said.

Deputy Political Chief at the United States Embassy Ms. Amy Hood reiterated United States’ commitment for continuous support in combatting the threat posed by the illicit accumulation and proliferation firearms globally and in South East Europe.

“It is encouraging to see that the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Interior recognize that a strong, secure and efficient control and management systems of small arms and light weapons (SALW) as a prerequisite for combatting illicit proliferation and trafficking of weapons. As such, we are also proud to have been able to support you in these efforts”, Ms. Hood told the participants.

UNDP SEESAC Senior Programme Coordinator Ms. Bojana Balon thanked the Government of the United States for making resources available and providing much needed help.

“I would like to reaffirm strong commitment by UNDP and SEESAC towards providing support to the institutions in Serbia in the activities aiming to facilitate the control of SALW. By doing so we will create conditions for a more secure, safer and prosperous region.” Ms. Balon said during the ceremony.

The goal of the PSSM course was to increase capacities of personnel of Serbia’s MoI who manage and safeguard SALW stockpiles and their ammunition. The course specifically focuses on security of stockpiles, with Serbian experts learning about the secure storage of armament and ammunition in accordance with the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS).

Organized by SEESAC, the week-long training was held in Šabac and is part of activities funded by the Government of United States that included the security upgrade of the Platicevo storage facility completed in December 2016. The upgrades serve to enhance the security of the Platicevo SALW and ammunition storage location, leading to more efficient management of stockpiles and contributing to a holistic approach to SALW control.

Promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted by the United Nations at the Sustainable Development Summit held in New York in September last year and which the UN members have determined to achieve by 2030. This week’s training is a contribution to achievement of SDG 16, which aims to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and communities to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity.

For additional information please contact:

Ms. Monika Lajhner
UNDP SEESAC Communications Officer
+381 62 105 25 80