DUSHANBE, June 15, 2009, Asia-Plus — A delegation of the OSCE Participating States that funded program to destroy surplus stockpiles of small arms, light weapons and conventional ammunition (Small Arms and Light Weapons or SALW) arrived in Dushanbe today morning on a week-long visit on occasion of completion of the SALW program.
According to the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the delegation members include representatives of Luxemburg, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and some other countries. The delegation will stay in Tajikistan till June 21 and during this period, they are expected to visit Khorog, Khujand and Qurghon Teppa to review local SALW projects, the source said. Besides, they will also visit the Interior Ministry directorate for combating drug trafficking (drug police) and the airfield in Ayni.
The program to address surplus SALW and ammunition was launched in August 2005 and began with eliminating stockpiles and securing proper storage in Dushanbe. Thirty-four tons of ammunition and 23,000 small arms – including AK-47 and AK-74 assault rifles and Makarov pistols – were destroyed.
The program’s first phase was completed in November 2006 on time and within budget.
With new equipment and training workshops provided by the OSCE, Tajik authorities are now better able to eliminate surplus SALW and ammunition. Seven storage sites have been refurbished or newly built to ensure safe and secure storage. Following the success of the project in the Dushanbe area, the Tajik Government has asked the OSCE for help in addressing similar risks throughout the country”s regions.
The project in Tajikistan was the first one carried out within the framework of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) assistance mechanisms on SALW and conventional ammunition, agreed on by OSCE states in 2002 and 2003.
