Securing funds for safe weapons and ammunition storage sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focus of OSCE Mission donors meeting

SARAJEVO, 27 February 2015 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina organized today a donors meeting and a visit to a weapons storage site in Visoko for the embassies of OSCE participating States present in the country.

The Mission presented the progress achieved so far in upgrading two weapons and two ammunition storage sites of the BiH Armed Forces, and it initiated fund raising for additional 250,000 Euro necessary for the completion of the upgrade.

“The safe storage of military weapons and ammunition is a must. Anything less represents a danger to the safety and well-being of all people in BiH, especially those serving in the sites and living close to the storage sites,” said Acting Head of the OSCE Mission Alexander Chuplygin.

There are currently 16,500 tons of aged surplus ammunition, which can become unstable, as well as 40,000 surplus military weapons, all of which need to be stored safely, and surpluses destroyed.

Since 2014, the OSCE Mission has been upgrading weapons storage sites in Visoko and Derventa, and ammunition storage sites in Mrkonjić Grad and Pazarić with a value of 800,000 Euros. Upgrades include the installation of safety fencing and gates, as well as vehicle barriers. The further funding of 250,000 Euros is needed for the completion of the installation of intruder detection systems consisting of closed-circuit TV, motion sensors, alert-lighting, back-up power, and other elements.

To date funding has been provided by Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Turkey, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina holds a mandate for promoting human rights and the rule of law, democratization and security sector reform. It supports BiH Armed Forces in their efforts to protect needed armaments and dispose of outdated weapons and ammunition.