Electronic National Weapons Registration and Record-keeping System Established in Montenegro

During a handover ceremony, Ivan Brajović, Minister of the Interior of the Government of Montenegro and Alexander Avanessov, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro officially presented the newly established electronic national system for registration and record-keeping of weapons owned by individuals. The new system is based on a software solution developed by the Ministry of Interior. The necessary hardware was procured through a project financed by the European Union and implemented by SEESAC.

On 11 March 2010, the European Union (EU), under the EU COUNCIL DECISION 2010/179/CFSP, decided 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. The introduction of a national system for registration and record-keeping of weapons in Montenegro is an activity implemented under the above-mentioned decision.

There are currently 105,000 registered small arms and light weapons in Montenegro and many more illegal ones. In other words, at least every sixth citizen owns a weapon. The widespread presence of weapons is directly linked to citizen insecurity and is detrimental to the development of the country.  “Deploying a weapons registration system in Montenegro means that thousands of weapons – in fact all weapons not immediately needed for security - will be in this way registered... This makes a clear contribution towards the country’s sustainable development, respect for international humanitarian law and reduction of armed criminality and violence” said Mr. Alexander Avanessov. Mr. Ivan Brajović, also noted that “establishing the national system for registration and record-keeping of weapons owned by citizens will contribute to the overall development of the country and its integration in the European Union.”

See Media Clippings on the establishment of the Electronic National Weapons Registration and Record-keeping System in Montenegro.