[IMC-Editorial] Minsk SALW Workshop brings together experts from across

[Franklin J. Swartz]

Europe
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Friday, October 24, 2003 5:08

For all those interested,

Appended below is information about the recent Minsk Workshop on Small
Arms and Light Weapons Stockpile Management and Decomissioning. There
were over 47 participants from Belarus, EU governments and
organisations. Included separately (because of bandwidth problems) are
photographs of several of the speakers in compressed 'RAR'(they are
self-extracting, if you have any problems please let me know and I
will send them separately). We consider this an important,
breakthrough initiative and will appreciate any publicity you can give
to it.

If you have any questions or comments or require any further information
please do not hesitate to contact me.


Yours sincerely,
                          



Franklin J. Swartz
President
Voluntas
P.O. Box 100
Minsk
220074 
Republic of Belarus
fjs at voluntas.org
Tel: +375 17 252 7314
Mobile: +375 29 658 4238


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                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MINSK WORKSHOP ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS BRINGS TOGETHER EXPERTS
FROM ACROSS EUROPE

Cooperation and Assistance Offered to Manage and Decommission Belarus'
Arms Stockpiles

(Minsk, 22 October 2003). Over 47 experts from across Europe and
Belarus attended the Minsk Workshop on Small Arms and Light Weapons
Stockpile Management and Decommissioning held on 16-17 October,
sponsored by the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The workshop
was partly funded by the British Foreign Office and Ploughshares. The
purpose of the workshop was to encourage joint action and support for
the decommissioning of Belarus' surplus weapons. Their storage places
an unnecessary burden on the country's resources, poses a security
threat through potential theft and has, in the past, left Belarus open
to unsubstantiated accusations of illicit trading.

Representatives of the Bulgarian, Canadian, German, Latvian,
Lithuanian, Netherlands, Polish, Swiss, Ukraine, British and U.S.
Governments attended as well as representatives of NATO, the OSCE and
SEESAC. Amongst foreign NGOs were PRIO (Norway) , Saferworld (UK),
SIPRI (Sweden), Geneva Small Arms Survey (Switzerland) and Voluntas
(UK).

In their opening addresses to the workshop both the Deputy Minister of
the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Sychev, and the
Honourable Brian Bennett, Ambassador for Great Britain, stressed
Belarus' history of cooperation on matters of SALW security and
reporting.

Presentations by Steven Brown of the NATO Maintenance and Supply
Agency (NAMSA) and James Cox of the OSCE and FSC (Forum for Security
and Cooperation) both offered the possibility of assistance for
enhancing Belarus' stockpile security and the decommissioning of
surplus arms.

Bernardo Mariani of Saferworld spoke of the importance of cooperation
between the enlarged EU and Belarus. Next month Saferworld, in
cooperation with Voluntas, will hold a conference in Warsaw,
EU-Belarus co-operation to increase security in a wider EU in which
Belarusian high level participation is expected.

The only dissension to mar the conference came from a Mr. Zagoumennov,
Director of SCAF, who, speaking for himself, condemned the proposed
conference in Warsaw and the activities of Saferworld. One
governmental delegate, who wished to remain anonymous, said, 'It is
understandable that when inter-governmental cooperation reaches this
level that some of the smaller NGOs should feel their position
threatened. Nevertheless the spirit of this workshop has been so
positive I very much doubt that these comments will have any effect.'

Foreign participants expressed pleasure and surprise at the candour
and openness shown by the Belarusian military representatives. Both
the Belarusian and foreign participants agreed that this technical
approach to specific issues allows both sides to work cooperatively.
As Dr. Swartz, one of the workshop's organisers said, 'By working
cooperatively on technical issues of mutual concern we can build a
foundation for later work on more controversial issues of policy.
Perhaps this approach will be the basis for a regional model'.

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