UNDP Rejects False Accusations About Surplus Salw And Ammunition Stock Destruction
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28/04/2010 - Following several false accusations and the incorrect and misleading information on the alleged abuse of the role of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP BIH) in the surplus weapons and ammunication destruction process, which were carried by some media outlets in BIH, and after UNDP asked Ms. Majkic to explain her groundless accusations, UNDP decided to send an open letter to all the media to clarify all the procedures taken within the Arms Control Project in BiH.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched in 2003 the Small Arms Project for Bosnia and Herzegovina to assist BiH authorities at all levels in reducing the immediate threat posed to human life by SALW. In 2005, the Project was endorsed by the Council of Ministers of BIH, and later reviewed and endorsed one more time on December 3, 2008.
The Project activities are taken within three Project components: Development of Institutional Capacity for SALW Control; SALW and Weapon Systems Destruction; and Ammunition Demilitarization.
Within the Development of Institutional Capacity Component, activities are taken toward enhancing the SALW and ammunition control and management expertise and practical knowledge of institutions. UNDP supports the Coordination Board and the relevant institutions helping them prepare for taking over and performing the arms control functions in the future. Moreover, UNDP provides support through the Project to all relevant institutions in harmonizing the legislation with the EU directives and regulations for civilian possession of firearms, as well as the EU Code of Conduct on exports and imports of arms, military equipment and dual-use items.
Furthermore, UNDP provided support to the former entity Defense Ministries and the Defense Ministry of BIH in building capacity for the destruction of small-caliber ammunition and arms. In this regard, in 2005-2006, over 86,000 pieces of SALW from military stocks were destroyed in cooperation with the Defense Ministry of Republika Srpska and the Defense Ministry of the Federation of BIH. The small arms owned by the RS Defense Ministry were smelted at the Banja Luka Jelsingrad Steel Mill, and the small arms owned by the Defense Ministry of the Federation of BIH were smelted at the Zenica Steel Works. In 2006, with UK Government support, UNDP procured and installed a rotary kiln burner for small caliber ammunition, less than 14.7 mm in caliber, at the Doboj Military Workshop. The value of the environmental protection machine, manufactured in accordance with the EU standards, was US$ 400,000.
Together with all relevant institutions, and BIH Defense Ministry in particular, UNDP coordinated its activities toward improving potential defense and industrial capacities necessary for the destruction of ammunition. UNDP chose industrial demilitarization of ammunition, instead of destruction of ammunition by open detonation, primarily for the protection of people and environment, and encouragement of local economies.
In view of the amounts and surpluses of unstable ammunition, international institutions and ministries in BiH jointly proposed that the ammunition destruction capacities should be expanded, and new sites were selected in conformity with a specialized assessment: TROM Doboj, Pretis, Vitezit and Binas.
With the European Union support in the amount of EUR 2,7 million, UNDP procured sophisticated equipment for the destruction of ammunition of different calibers, and personal protective equipment for the workers who were trained in UK.
In addition to the agreed 3,000 tons, under the contract signed with Pretis, UNDP has so far destroyed 1,300 tons of ammunition, and over 3,600 tons of ammunition have been destroyed at TROM Doboj. Accordingly, UNDP and the Defense Ministry of BIH have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which regulates details of transportation, loading, unloading and manipulation of ammunition from storage sites to Pretis and TROM Doboj.
In the end, we want to emphasize that control and supervision over the destruction of ammunition and arms, which is the subject of the contract between UNDP and Pretis, were done by a combined team of UNDP, EUFOR, OSCE and NATO representatives. Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations carries out quarterly inspections at the Pretis, under the Law on the Manufacture of Firearms and Military Equipment. The inspection teams supervise the ammunition destruction and storage, as well as secondary materials.
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