2,200 small arms and light weapons were destroyed on 28 October at the JST “ARES UT” smelting facility in Chisinau, in the EU-supported disposal activity aiming to increase security and minimise the risk of arms proliferation.

UNDP SEESAC (The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons) has been working with EU support for almost two decades in assisting the authorities in the South East Europe region to destroy small arms and light weapons, with the aim of combatting and preventing the illicit flows of small arms and light weapons also raising awareness of the threat posed by poorly secured and illegal firearms.

These activities support the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 16 to promote peaceful, just and inclusive societies and its target 16.4 that includes a significant reduction in illicit arms flows by 2030.

Gheorghe Balan, Acting Chief of the General Police Inspectorate and Dima Al-Khatib, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Moldova took part in the ceremony marking the initiation of the disposal in Chisinau on 28 October 2019.

UNDP SEESAC is currently working in South East Europe under the framework of the EU COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2016/2356 and EU COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2018/1788. 

About SEESAC

The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) is a joint regional initiative of UNDP and Regional Cooperation Council. As the executive arm of the South East Europe Regional Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation of SALW, SEESAC has been working to promote safety and security through regional cooperation in South East Europe since 2002 and has grown in to a regional hub for a wide spectre of issues related to security sector reform. SEESAC works to strengthen the capacities of national and international stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of SALW, and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South East Europe. SEESAC has been actively providing comprehensive support to national counterparts in South East Europe on small arms and light weapons control and successfully facilitating regional cooperation in South East Europe.