1,400 pieces of collected and seized weapons destroyed in Ilijaš

(Patria) - Competent police agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina today destroyed approximately 1,400 pieces of weapons and weapon parts at the ironworks in Ilijaš, aiming to improve public safety.

Police agencies collected small arms and light weapons through their regular police activities.

At the same time, some firearms were voluntarily surrendered by citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The action of destroying weapons held in the storages of police agencies in BiH is organized by the Coordination Board for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the financial support of the European Union in BiH, in cooperation with the Small Arms and Light Weapons Control Centre in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe (SEESAC), with the technical support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in BiH.

This confirms the long-standing cooperation and commitment to providing a sustainable solution to the problem of seized weapons and the destruction of collected firearms.

- The area of small arms and light weapons control and the fight against illegal firearms trafficking are extremely important for the security of BiH citizens, and also for the entire EU. Therefore, it is in the interest of both BiH and the EU that our joint efforts are successful.

The European Union remains committed and ready to further support the competent authorities in BiH in their efforts to effectively control the proliferation and illegal trafficking of small arms and light weapons. The EU Office in BiH will continue to be a strong partner to the citizens and institutions of BiH on this path - stated Alfredo Strippoli, Head of the Rule of Law Section at the Office of the Special Representative of the European Union in BiH.

The Chairman of the Coordination Board for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in BiH, Ermin Pešto, points out that since 2016, a total of approximately 27,100 pieces of weapons and weapon parts have been destroyed through these activities.

- In the past period, we have witnessed tragic events in which illegal weapons were used. With today's action, we are also sending a message that it is necessary to reduce the number of weapons in illegal possession by citizens in order to create a safe environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina - added Pešto.

Sylvain Merlen, Acting Resident Representative of UNDP in BiH, emphasized that UNDP has been continuously supporting competent institutions for many years in activities that address key security issues arising from inadequate control of small arms and light weapons.

- This activity overlaps with the recently launched campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of small arms and light weapons, which, with the support of UNDP, is being carried out by competent police agencies throughout BiH - stated Merlen.

This action jointly aims to draw attention to the dangers that surplus weapons, as well as poorly secured weapons and weapons in illegal possession, pose to the daily safety of all citizens.

In Southeastern Europe, the problem of circulation and proliferation of small arms and light weapons knows no borders and as such requires a joint response at the regional level.

By implementing these activities, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues its commitment to implementing the goals outlined in the Roadmap for a Sustainable Solution to Combat Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their Ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024 (Roadmap) and the Strategy for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2021-2024.

This event was organized within the IPA project of the European Commission "Support to Strengthening the Fight against Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans".