International Gun Destruction Day: 1,489 pieces of light weapons destroyed in Montenegro

Nikšić, Montenegro (9 July 2014) – By destroying 1,489 pieces of small arms and light weapons earlier today in the Ferrous Metallurgy Institute in Nikšić, Montenegro celebrated the 9th July, International Gun Destruction Day. Destruction of weapons was sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with the European Union and the UNDP/SEESAC (South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons). The event was also backed up by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Montenegro (OSCE).

International Gun Destruction Day reminds the world of the danger that surplus weapons, insufficiently secured and illegal weapons pose to its security and safety. The spread of small arms and light weapons continue to affect the security of the Western Balkan. Since 2002, with a view to limiting the spread of illicit small arms, the UNDP/SEESAC has bas been providing support to its partners at all levels in the region. This year, the SEESAC has conducted coordinated regional activities on light weapons destruction with its partners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

By organising simultaneous activities on weapon destruction, these countries will jointly help the region destroy a significant number of small arms in one day, thus increasing safety and security at home and abroad.

The funds for weapon destruction were provided by the European Union in the framework of the EU strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking in small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, based on of the Council Decision 2013/730/CFSP of 9 December 2013, and through a programme of support for the SEESAC’s disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe.