Regional Arms Exports Information Exchange Process

The first meeting of the regional information exchange process on arms export controls took place on 12 November 2009 in Belgrade, Serbia, with the participation of delegations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Representatives exchanged information and experiences regarding the implementation of existing UN, EU and OSCE sanctions with representatives describing national procedures for implementing sanctions.

Second, delegations discussed national export policies for exports of weapons and dual-use goods to the Caucasus, Middle East and Africa. Each delegation presented their main exports and highlighted particular questions related to their national export policy.

Third, delegations shared information about regulations for exchange of information on licence denials in their national legislation. An agreement was reached to continue the discussion on this topic and to prepare a detailed review for each country on the steps necessary for sharing information about licence denials with third parties.

Furthermore, regulation of brokering activities in respective domestic legislations and various aspects of the implementation of the control over brokering activities was discussed. It was decided to explore opportunities for the establishment of a database of brokers registered in the region. SEESAC would host such a database.

The delegations also discussed the possibility to establish a database, to be administered by SEESAC, on the competent authorities and civil servants that are directly in charge for giving consent or issuing a license for foreign trade of armaments, military equipment and dual use goods in the region.

Finally, delegations agreed that the next meeting of the information exchange process will take place at the end of March 2010 in Skopje. It was agreed that representatives of EU COARM will be invited to attend and present the work of COARM. Delegations agreed to prepare questions in advance in order to aid the EU COARM representatives' presentation.

In addition to the proposed presentation by EU COARM representatives, the tentative agenda for the next meeting will include:

  • A short presentation by Bosnia and Herzegovina on their work as a non-permanent UN Council Security member;
  • A review of national arms export policies to specific geographical regions;
  • National implementation of catch-all clauses and specific end-user certificates and forms;
  • National regulation for information exchange on licence denials;
  • Regional database on brokers.


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