Deputy Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Slaven Galić stated that there is a surplus of 4,500 tons of ammunition and mines and explosive devices in BiH, and that more than 73 tons of surplus weapons have been destroyed in the past period.
“We will continue this process in order to create better conditions for storing weapons and military equipment, resolving surplus ammunition and mines and explosive devices, and strengthening the general security of people and their property,” said Galić after the 26th session of the Strategic Committee for Armaments, Ammunition and Mines and Explosive Devices.
According to him, more than 58 projects related to creating a safe environment are currently being implemented in BiH.
He thanked the OSCE in BiH and international partners for organizing this international session, and announced the next meeting for March next year, which will be organized by the UNDP in BiH.
Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Rick Holcapl expressed his satisfaction with the results of today’s meeting and the work of the Strategic Committee on preserving the stability of BiH and the security of its citizens.
“The OSCE is a strong partner of the Armed Forces of BiH, and the work of the OSCE within the Strategic Committee is also the work of domestic institutions on resolving surplus weapons and ammunition, their adequate storage and reducing risks to the safety of people and their property,” said Holcapl.
He also thanked international partners and donors for their efforts to establish a safe environment in BiH and control medium and light weapons.
The organizers of this meeting are the Ministry of Defense of BiH and the Armed Forces of BiH, with the support of the OSCE.
The session was also attended by permanent members of the Committee, representatives of the Ministry of Defense of BiH and the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of BiH, and international organizations in BiH – OSCE, UNDP, EU, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, EUFOR, as well as representatives of the embassies in BiH of the USA, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, Austria and Sweden.
