OSCE Secretary General emphasizes need to secure ammunitions and weapons stocks following Cyprus explosion

VIENNA, 11 July 2011 – The deadly explosion of munitions at a military base in Cyprus underlines that work to secure ammunition and weapons stocks is of utmost urgency, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said today.

"The blast tragically claimed several lives, and I offer my deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the victims' families," Zannier said.

"The explosion reminds us of the dangers posed by stockpiles of ammunition and explosive materials. Several OSCE participating States – including Cyprus – have used the resources and expertise offered by the OSCE to address this security threat. The Organization will continue to support its participating States in their work to ensure that their stockpiles are secure."

The OSCE has worked with participating States to reduce the security risk arising from stockpiles of ammunition, explosive materials and detonating devices since 2003, when the Organization's participating States adopted the OSCE Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition.

The Document outlines criteria for identifying surplus stockpiles of conventional ammunition, explosive material or detonating devices that pose a security risk. It also sets up a mechanism under which participating States can ask for support to address this risk.

So far, the Organization has supported 26 projects in 10 countries following requests made under the Document. In 2009, the OSCE supported the destruction of 324 surplus man-portable air-defence systems at the Kalo Chorio range in Cyprus. Such short-range surface-to-air missiles are seen as particularly attractive to terrorists due to their small size and light weight, and potential to threaten civil aviation.