OSCE Presence launches project for reducing risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in Albania

The OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior, launched today a three-year project, which aims to assist the national authorities to decrease the risk of weapon proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. The project is part of a regional project co-ordinated by the OSCE’s Conflict Prevention Centre and implemented by the OSCE field operations throughout the Western Balkans, with financial support of the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of France.

Based on the priority areas identified by the Ministry of Interior and the Albanian State Police, the project will support the adaptation of the legislative framework for the deactivation of firearms, strengthen the capacities of the Albanian Institute for Police Dog Training, and raise public awareness on the dangers of misuse and proliferation of small and light weapons. 

“The fact that we are all here today testifies to our collective awareness of the threats and challenges that lay ahead of us. We are speaking about a crosscutting threat from terrorism to transnational organized crime. A threat that undermines community trust and social cohesion by fuelling gang violence and violent crime, which is even more so deleterious for the much needed trust of young people and young generations in their institutions and in their communities”, Head of the OSCE Presence, Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco, said at the opening of the event.

“I strongly believe that the implementation of this project by the Ministry of Interior and the OSCE Presence in Albania will succeed in fulfilling the jointly-set objectives, and will be followed by more co-operation milestones in the area of security and beyond”, said Deputy Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari. Addressing the event, Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee Mimi Kodheli said that Albania remains firmly committed to fulfil its engagement in enforcing the international standards concerning the fight against small arms, light weapons and ammunition. “We welcome the OSCE support in the implementation of this project and we are fully confident that it will help increase the capacities within the Ministry of Interior and the Albanian State police in this regard,” she added.

German Ambassador Peter Zingraf, French Ambassador Elisabeth Barsacq, European Union Delegation representative Jonas Paul, Deputy General Director of the Albanian State Police Albert Dervishaj and Project Officer Slobodan Boskovic from the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation Support Unit also spoke at the event.

The project contributes to the efforts of the Western Balkans in achieving the main goals of the Roadmap on Small Arms ad Light Weapons and Ammunitions and create a sustainable solution to the illicit possession, misuse and trafficking of firearms, ammunition and explosives. 

Through this project, the OSCE Presence in Albania also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aiming to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, reduce illicit arms flows, and strengthen relevant national to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.