US assists Montenegro destroy excess weapons and ammunition

Podgorica, Montenegro (31 October 2011) – Montenegro’s Ministry of Defence will continue the programme of excess weapons and ammunition destruction, which is part of an ongoing cooperation programme with the US State Department. The US Government will provide US$1.5 million for this programme, as stipulated by the agreement signed by MoD Boro Vučinić and US Ambassador Sue K. Brown earlier today.

MoD Vučinić said that the Annex signed today is part of the Technical Agreement signed in 2007 which envisages the US assistance in this programme until late 2012. He specified that Montenegro has destroyed, with the US, OSCE and UNDP assistance, over 4,500 tonnes of excess weapons and ammunition out of total 12 thousand tonnes.

“The risk is still present, given that plenty of the ammunition is old,” said Minister Vučinić adding that Montenegro will use, with the assistance of its partners, all the required procedures to ensure the safety of the process.

Ambassador Brown underlined that “the problem of excess and deteriorating small arms and ammunition often goes unresolved, resulting in accidents and explosions that destroy property and take lives of civilians.” She welcomed the fact that “Montenegro has shown true leadership in addressing this issue head-on” and that a large portion of excess weapons and ammunition has been destroyed in accordance with international standards.

Ambassador Brown stressed that this latest grant of over US$1.5 million by the State Department will “tackle this key security threat in Montenegro.” She pointed out that in the past several years over 900 tonnes of ammunition has been destroyed owing to the US assistance worth over US$4 million.