OSCE promotes dialogue on transnational approach to combating illicit weapons, ammunition and explosives trafficking at regional workshop in Lviv

LVIV, Ukraine, 23 October 2018 - A regional workshop to foster dialogue and encourage international co-ordination and co-operation in combating illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives among border security and management agencies and international stakeholders was organized in Lviv, Ukraine, from 23 to 25 October 2018.

The event, hosted by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, gathered some 35 national representatives from Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland and Ukraine as well as from the international organizations such as Europol, Interpol, OSCE and UNODC.

“Only effective co-operation among border and law enforcement agencies of neighboring states together with international institutions ensures a common security space and proper response to cross-border organized crime and terrorist activities,” stressed Lieutenant-General Vasyl Servatiuk, First Deputy Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

Robin Mossinkoff, Head of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre’s Forum for Security Support Section, underlined that combating the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in all its aspects needs to constitute a major element of any action addressing the problem of their destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread.

“Germany considers the proliferation of weapons, ammunition and explosives to be a serious threat to national and regional security and prosperity,” noted Uwe Koch, Desk Officer at the Disarmament and Arms Control Directorate General, Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. He continued: “The presence of representatives from numerous countries and international organizations reaffirms the importance of the subject.”

The regional workshop was financially supported by Germany and France and organized jointly by the OSCE Secretariat’s Conflict Prevention Centre and Transnational Threats Department.