SALW Destruction Activities in Croatia Continue: Another 2,190 SALW Eliminated

The Croatian Ministry of Interior destroyed additional 840 and 1,350 pieces of small arms and light weapons on 5 December and 8 December respectively. These destructions bring the total number of weapons destroyed during 2011 up to 13,545. The destruction activities are a part of a larger project, the aim of which is to improve safety through the collection and elimination of illegal and surplus small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Croatia. The project is implemented jointly by SEESAC, with support of UNDP Croatia, and the Croatian Ministry of Interior. The project envisions the total elimination of up to 30,000 small arms and light weapons in Croatia.

The implementation of the project is made possible by the financial support of the European Union. On 11 March 2010, EU Council passed the Decision 2010/179/CFSP to support SEESAC arms control activities in the Western Balkans, within the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition. Led by this decision, the EU supports SEESAC in assisting local government institutions to collect and destroy illegal and surplus SALW in Croatia.