OHR Welcomes BiH’s Move Towards European Standards In Arms Control

OHR’s Senior Deputy High Representative Werner Wnendt, wrote today to BiH’s Minister of Defence, Nikola Radovanovic, expressing his full support for the Ministers decision to place a moratorium on the sale of surplus small arms and light weapons from the armed forces ofBosnia & Herzegovina

“The continuing global proliferation of arms and ammunition in circulation world-wide can only add to global instability” notes Ambassador Wnendt in his letter underlined that “helping curb the proliferation of weapons should be a priority for BiH”. Ambassador Wnendt in his letter describes the moratorium on the further sale of surplus small arms and light weapons as “a very important step towards fulfilling BiH’s international commitments and right-sizing [BiH’s] weapons stock”.

International obligations to the OSCE and the UN commit BiH to seek the destruction of arms and ammunition rather than encourage their proliferation.

“I am very pleased that you have adopted such a responsible approach to the sale of surplus weapons from the armed forces of BiH. I hope and expect this to open the door to funding for the destruction of the excess arms and ammunition”, concludes Ambassador Wnendt’s in his letter to Minister Radovanovic.