SEESAC Coordinator and Deputy Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina discuss future cooperation

On 20 February 2013, Dr. Ivan Zverzhanovski, UNDP/SEESAC Coordinator,  met with Mr. Mirko Okolic, Deputy Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina responsible for Resources Management, to discuss the continuation of efforts to upgrade arms and ammunition storages of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Armed Forces.

On this occasion, Mr. Okolić thanked Dr. Zverzhanovski for the successful cooperation throughout the previous years, and stressed MoD’s interest in exploring future joint efforts to reconstruct and upgrade warehouses, which would be implemented under the auspices of UNDP/SEESAC.

The previous cooperation with the MoD resulted in the installation of a forty-one security doors on the arms and ammunition storages „KULA1“ near Mrkonjić Grad, „RABIĆ“ near Derventa, „TEUFIK BUZA“ near Visoko and „KRUPA“ near Pazarić.”
Mr. Okolic and Dr. Zverzhanovski once again agreed that increased security and protection of civilians should remain a priority for the years to come,  in order to decrease the threat of incidents such as those in Gerdec – Albania in 2008, Cyprus in 2011, and most recent Sliven – Bulgaria in 2012.

The improved security of the storages in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been made possible thanks to the support provided by the European Union, under the EU Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP dated 11 March 2010, in support of UNDP/SEESAC arms control activities across the Western Balkans, within the framework of the EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition.