Progress in the implementation of the Roadmap reviewed during the 6th Regional Coordination Meeting
Over 100 participants, representatives of SALW Commissions in the Western Balkans, the international organizations engaged in arms control in the region and donors, gathered on 1-2 December 2021 for the Sixth Regional Coordination Meeting of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024.
The meeting was preceded by the 6th round of Local Coordination Meetings organized by SALW Commissions in Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje and Tirana.
The overarching objective of the regional coordination meetings is to take stock of the progress, challenges, and needs as per the specific goals of the Roadmap, discuss contributions from the international organizations engaged in arms control in the region and donor support in countering the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. The main findings from the 6th Regional Reports based on the Key Performance Indicators and Roadmap Goals were presented at the meeting.
Opening remarks were given by H.E. Marjolijn van Deelen, EU Special Envoy for Non-proliferation and Disarmament, European External Action Service, H.E. Jean-Claude Brunet, Ambassador-at-large on transitional criminal threats and the fight against the illicit trafficking of SALW, France, Mr. Albrecht von Wittke, Director of Division, Conventional Arms Control, Federal Foreign Office, Germany, Mr. Amer Kapetanović, Head of Political Department, Regional Cooperation Council and Mr. Gerd Trogemann, Manager, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.
H.E. Marjolijn van Deelen expressed her gratitude to the SALW Commissions for showing continued support to the implementation of the Roadmap despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and noted that she is “pleased that the Roadmap and the overall regional cooperation in the area of SALW Control in the Western Balkans has been so successful that it is serving as a model of inspiration and blueprint for other regions or thematic areas”.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Jean-Claude Brunet congratulated the authorities in the Western Balkans for the progress achieved and stressed France’s readiness to expand its support to partners in the Western Balkans by sharing French expertise and experiences in various areas of SALW control.
Mr. Albrecht von Wittke commended the SALW Commissions from the region for their cooperation and continued focus on the oversight and coordination of activities despite the multitude of activities and projects that are currently under implementation, stressing that the Roadmap has become a model for forward-looking security partnerships.
Mr. Amer Kapetanovic, in his opening remarks, noted that “it is encouraging to see that the governments throughout the region have continued moving forward, despite the pandemic”, and emphasized the importance of regional security cooperation for the EU accession of the Western Balkans.
Lastly, Mr. Gerd Trogemann said that “the recently published UN Secretary-General’s Seventh Biennial Report on SALW noted that evident progress was recorded in this region, including in the increased security of weapons and ammunition storages, improved marking and tracing and strengthened operational cooperation”, and expressed his gratitude to the SALW Commissions for maintaining their commitment to a comprehensive implementation of the Roadmap.
The Roadmap was developed by the Western Balkans authorities with SEESAC’s technical support, under the auspices of the Governments of Germany and France and with the support of the European Union and other relevant actors. It was adopted by the region’s leaders at the London Summit in July 2018.
The meeting is organized within the EU COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/1788, in support of SEESAC for the implementation of the Regional Roadmap on combating illicit arms trafficking in the Western Balkans.