OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports drafting of rulebook on safe storage of ammunition in storage sites

As part of the longstanding support to the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Interior, on 20 and 21 October 2021, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized the first in a series of working group meetings for drafting a “Rulebook on safe storage of ammunition in storage sites.”

With the Mission’s support, a multisector working group, comprised of legal and weapons/ammunition experts from the two Ministries was established. The Mission also engaged an international expert to support the working group in drafting a rulebook that will cover Army and Police storage sites.

Mladen Marković, Head of the Montenegrin Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Commission, said that the objective of the working group is to strengthen policy on the management of stockpiles, as one of the key goals in the implementation of the 2019–2025 National Strategy on combatting illegal possession, misuse and trafficking in SALW and conventional ammunition.

This activity was part of the Mission’s project on “Strengthening action against illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons, ammunition, and explosives in Montenegro.” Two additional meetings on drafting the rulebook are planned in November.

The Mission will continue to support the country in ensuring the safety and security of state-owned stockpiles of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition, as well as combatting their illicit use and proliferation.