OSCE supports Ukraine’s efforts in combating illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition and explosives

Some 20 representatives of Ukrainian government ministries and agencies and the donor community participated in a high-level meeting in Kyiv on 12 March 2019 to review progress in co-operation and joint efforts between the OSCE and relevant Ukrainian authorities in combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives (WAE) in the country and across its borders.

The OSCE last year conducted a needs assessment to establish the baseline for providing technical assistance and institutional support to develop capacities of Ukrainian authorities in their efforts to combat the trafficking of WAE in a holistic way. The OSCE is already working to enhance capacities of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in this field, while Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior and the national customs agency have confirmed their readiness to co-operate with the OSCE to address the challenges in combating the trafficking of WAE.

Serhiy Honcharenko, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, said that Ukraine needs support in tackling different aspects of the trafficking of WAE because of the ongoing armed conflict. He said that the problem needs to be addressed both within the country and at its borders. “It is important not only to focus on the consequences of WAE trafficking, but also on its prevention, and addressing the full life cycle of WAE from manufacturing and import through to disposal,” he said.  

Marcel Pesko, Ambassador, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, highlighted that no country is immune against threats posed by, and accumulation of WAE. “It is important for Ukraine to have one common strategic approach to tackling these problems,” he added.

Rasa Ostrauskaite, the OSCE Secretariat’s Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, said: “It is re-ensuring to see that Ukrainian authorities recognize and share the understanding of the challenges posed by WAE trafficking. The OSCE stands ready to assist the national authorities of Ukraine in tackling the challenges and threats stemming from illicit WAE trafficking”.

Representatives of the donor community from Germany, France, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and the European Union commended the willingness of Ukrainian authorities to co-operate and engage in project activities combating illicit WAE trafficking, and expressed their readiness to support these efforts. 

The meeting was organized with the support of Germany, France, Poland and Slovakia and was chaired by the OSCE Secretariat.