Presentation of the Regional Report and National Reports on Arms Export

On 23 November 2010, SEESAC organized the presentation of the Regional and National Reports on Arms Exports from the Western Balkans. The aim of the event was to publicize the achievements in transparency and the improvements in arms exports control that have taken place since 2006 as well as to inform the public of the significant level of regional cooperation.

Welcoming participant, Mr. Diman Dimov, SEESAC Team Leader, noted that while “many still consider the area of arms exports as secretive and closed to the public, we are here today to demonstrate the achievements in transparency and to show the level of openness achieved by Western Balkans states.” Mr. Dimov went on to present the process of development of the Regional Report on Arms Exports, as well as the Regional Information Exchange Process. The Regional Report is inspired by the European Union Report on Arms Exports, and as such provides evidence of the capacity and willingness of Western Balkans states to share information with each other. The development and publication of the Regional Report is part of the wider Regional Information Exchange Process on Arms Exports, which mirrors the EU COARM.

Ms. Irida Bushati, Vice Chairman of the Albanian State Export Control Authority (AKSHE), thanked SEESAC for its support and gave an overview of Albania’s 2009 Report on Arms Exports. She explained that this is the second such report to be published. The report contains an overview of relevant legislation as well as data on exports. Ms. Bushati presented planned future steps in further improving export controls, namely the revision of laws and subsidiary legislation and improved cooperation with relevant state agencies.

Mr. Branimir Mandic, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), welcomed the organization of such a presentation as essential in the process of increasing transparency and de-mystifying the sphere of arms control. Mr. Mandic praised SEESAC’s success in fostering regional co-operation and increased the exchange of information. He went on to present the export control system in BiH. In particular, he described the level of transparency and the central role of the BiH Parliament in overseeing the system.

Mr. Dusko Ivanov, State Counselor and SALW Focal Point for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, underlined the importance of the regional cooperation, and stressed his country’s commitment to arms control and its compliance with EU and international standards. At the same time, Mr. Ivanov stressed that his country “is fully committed to fighting the illicit trade in SALW as well as fighting organized crime.” He confirmed that his country will continue to participate in SEESAC activities and thus combat organized crime and terrorism.

Ms. Jasmina Roskic, from the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development of the Republic of Serbia, stated Serbia’s full commitment to arms control and transparency of export controls of weapons and military equipment. She went on to present Serbia’s latest report on arms exports. She explained how the export and import control system functioned and stressing the fact that weapons and military equipment were Serbia’s biggest export.

The presentation was followed by a meeting on regional cooperation in arms exports control.

The Agenda of the press conference can be downloaded here.

Back