Information
Ivan Zverzhanovski Briefs the Ministers a the EU-Western Balkans Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Forum
Ivan Zverzhanovski, UNDP/SEESAC Team Leader a.i. was invited to attend the EU-Western Balkans Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Forum, held in Tirana on 5-6 November, where he briefed the ministers on UNDP/SEESAC’s activities in the field of controlling the accumulation and trafficking of firearms originating in the Western Balkans.
The yearly meetings brings together ministers of justice and home affairs from the Western Balkan countries, the EU Presidency, the European Commission and representatives of various international organizations to discuss the most burning justice issues and the EU integration process. Among the highly debated topics at this meeting, explained Ms. Cecilia Malström, the European Commissioner, was the issue of trafficking, particularly “how we can accelerate the cooperation to deal with the enormous amount of firearms that circulates in Europe, and which has its origin in the Balkan region.”
On this occasion, Dr. Zverzhanovski highlighted that SEESAC’s experience shows that only a comprehensive, holistic approach to the issue of arms control produces results. “This is why our programmes have sought to combine strong operational support and technical assistance, with the development of a regionally based knowledge base,” explained Dr. Zverzhanovski.
CURRENT RESULTS
As a result, SEESAC’s activities have given way to “a significant reduction of surplus and confiscated weapons; improved stockpile management capabilities through both storage upgrades and training; increased marking and tracing capabilities; higher public awareness of the problem of SALW; and the increased control over and transparency of the legal flows of arms.”
FUTURE WORK
Among the areas to which attention should be paid in the future, Dr. Zverzhanovski mentioned a need for a more concerted regional effort to register weapons and develop tracing mechanisms, which would path the way to improved information sharing between law enforcement agencies in the region. Removal of illegal weapons from the civilian population and improved stockpile security however, should also remain high among the priorities.
It is important to stress that in all of its work “SEESAC is deeply committed to facilitating and supporting efforts to reduce the threat posed by the uncontrolled proliferation and illicit trafficking of SALW through regional cooperation,” Dr. Zverzhanovski explained.
Since 2002, UNDP/SEESAC works as a component of the of the Regional Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, with the aim of stopping the flow and availability of SALW in the region, consolidating achievements so far and supporting the socio-economic conditions for peace and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe.
Since March 11 2010, SEESAC arms control activates in the Western Balkans are, in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition, also directly supported by the EU through the Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP.
The yearly meetings brings together ministers of justice and home affairs from the Western Balkan countries, the EU Presidency, the European Commission and representatives of various international organizations to discuss the most burning justice issues and the EU integration process. Among the highly debated topics at this meeting, explained Ms. Cecilia Malström, the European Commissioner, was the issue of trafficking, particularly “how we can accelerate the cooperation to deal with the enormous amount of firearms that circulates in Europe, and which has its origin in the Balkan region.”
On this occasion, Dr. Zverzhanovski highlighted that SEESAC’s experience shows that only a comprehensive, holistic approach to the issue of arms control produces results. “This is why our programmes have sought to combine strong operational support and technical assistance, with the development of a regionally based knowledge base,” explained Dr. Zverzhanovski.
CURRENT RESULTS
As a result, SEESAC’s activities have given way to “a significant reduction of surplus and confiscated weapons; improved stockpile management capabilities through both storage upgrades and training; increased marking and tracing capabilities; higher public awareness of the problem of SALW; and the increased control over and transparency of the legal flows of arms.”
FUTURE WORK
Among the areas to which attention should be paid in the future, Dr. Zverzhanovski mentioned a need for a more concerted regional effort to register weapons and develop tracing mechanisms, which would path the way to improved information sharing between law enforcement agencies in the region. Removal of illegal weapons from the civilian population and improved stockpile security however, should also remain high among the priorities.
It is important to stress that in all of its work “SEESAC is deeply committed to facilitating and supporting efforts to reduce the threat posed by the uncontrolled proliferation and illicit trafficking of SALW through regional cooperation,” Dr. Zverzhanovski explained.
Since 2002, UNDP/SEESAC works as a component of the of the Regional Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, with the aim of stopping the flow and availability of SALW in the region, consolidating achievements so far and supporting the socio-economic conditions for peace and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe.
Since March 11 2010, SEESAC arms control activates in the Western Balkans are, in the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition, also directly supported by the EU through the Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP.