Towards a Sustainable Solution for Excess Weapons and Ammunition

A three-day Conference entitled “Towards a Sustainable Solution for Excess Weapons and Ammunition: Policy, Logistical and Financial Aspects of Excess Weapons and Ammunition Disposal” was hosted by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia in period 30 May – 01 June 2011 in the Croatian Armed Forces Hall in Pula. 

Major General Mate Ostovic gave opening remarks on behalf of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Croatia, while the keynote speech was delivered by Mr Zoran Sajinovic, MAG Chairman.

The purpose of the Conference was to bring together representatives of logistics, policy/planning and finance departments in the MoDs of the South East European countries and to provide them with an opportunity to exchange relevant information and experience regarding disposal of excess weapons and ammunition with a view to developing a shared vision of a future solution to this problem. In this light, regional approach to excess weapons and ammunitions disposal is seen as the key to finding a lasting solution to the problem. The main objective of the Conference was to prepare a paper highlighting issues of regional importance in the field of excess weapons and ammunition disposal for the upcoming Defence Ministerial Meeting in Slovenia.

The Conference has gathered 26 participants, civilian and military representatives from respective regional Ministries of Defence, NATO, ITF and Small Arms Survey. Among others Conference was attended by Mr Drasko Jovanovic, Deputy Minister for Defence Policy from the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence and Mr Ilija Pilipovic, Assistant Minister for Material Resources, from the Serbian Ministry of Defence.