The proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in South East Europe continues to pose a threat to the consolidation of regional security and stability. In a comprehensive attempt to address the problem, the Stability Pact has developed a Regional Implementation Plan, which was approved by Stability Pact partners last October in Budapest (Working Table III on Security). The most significant feature of the Plan is the Regional Clearinghouse in Belgrade. The Clearinghouse was opened on 8 May 2002.

The task of the Clearinghouse is to help SEE governments and non-governmental organisations develop projects aimed at strengthening capabilities to stem the illicit flow of SALW throughout the region. It will also provide an opportunity and facility for regional information sharing in this challenging area. The Clearinghouse will place particular emphasis on the development of regional projects to address the reality of cross-border flows of weapons and ammunition.

The Regional Implementation Plan for combating the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), as approved by the Working Table III meeting in Budapest, 27-28 November 2001, aims at reducing Small Arms and Light Weapons in all SEE countries. It draws on experience collected in various countries of the region where weapons collection activities were conducted within the Stability Pact framework. This includes:

Small Arms Light Weapons Collected and Destroyed
under Stability Pact affiliated programs 2000 - 2002

Albania

Collected             Destroyed

170,000               150'000 joint US/German/Norway & UNDP

Bulgaria

Collected             Destroyed

                            78'000 US program

Yugoslavia

Collected              Destroyed

                            52'000 US program

Small Arms Light Weapons Destruction Program in Albania

Weapons collection has been an important topic in Albania since the military armouries were plundered in 1997 during the general unrest that gripped Albania. The Elbasan Small Weapons Destruction Facility established in late 2000 is one of over 30 Stability Pact Projects, which have started in Albania. UNDP has had a pilot project in the town of Gramsh since 1998 to collect small arms in return for increased community development assistance. This was expanded in 2000 to include several new communities. The Albanian government launched its own program of weapons collection in 1999, which was extended for two more years and included collecting weapons door to door. After collecting the weapons, the police consider whether they need any of those collected before turning the remainder over to the military that in turn consider their needs before they are finally identified for destruction.

The destruction arrangements established under the Stability Pact’s Quick Start Program cover both programs. A memorandum of understanding between the Albanian Government and Germany, Norway and the United States set out responsibilities for collecting and destroying weapons. The German project consisted in the professional destruction (cutting), within four months (December 2000 - April 2001), of 40'000 weapons. A team of five German experts working with a team of 10 Albanians (2 Army officers, 8 others) who, at the same time, are acquiring the expertise to continue with this task in the future.