Smederevo, 12 April, 2003 - Today, at a large industrial smelter in the Danube town of Smeredevo, the Republic of Serbia Minister of Interior, Mr Dusan Mihajlovic, initiated the destruction of almost 4,000 small arms and light weapons in a process supported by SEESAC. The weapons included AK-47s, rocket propelled grenade launchers, pistols, and other weapons, gathered by the police throughout the country. The molten metal produced an estimated 12 tons of high-grade steel.

The ceremony was witnessed by local and international media, to whom Minister Mihajlovic gave a statement, followed by Mr Frank O’Donnell, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia and Montenegro. Minister Mihajlovic and Mr O’Donnell then proceeded to load weapons into the furnace, in a hands-on gesture, followed by Ambassador Donald McLennan of Canada, Mr David Hudson, First Secretary of the Delegation of the Commission of the European Union (both key donors to SEESAC), Mr Vladimir Bilandzic from OSCE, Colonel Michael Martinez, US Military Attache and SEESAC staff.

This destruction event has resulted in drawing valuable public attention to the process, has contributed towards maintaining the political momentum of the amnesty initiative and has provided tangible evidence to the civil population that recovered weapons will be destroyed and permanently taken out of circulation. The initial cost per weapon destroyed was approximately six US dollars per weapon (US$ 6), but future destruction costs are predicted to be substantially lower as capacity development has now taken place, and economies of scale will begin to apply.

On 16 April 2003 approximately 40,000 rounds of small arms ammunition will be destroyed by controlled burning at the Prvi Partizan ammunition facility in Uzice.

SEESAC support has also included the production of amnesty literature (more than 3 million copies of different leaflets and 100,000 posters) and support to the public awareness campaign through the medium of local NGOs and media.

The voluntary surrender of illicit small arms, light weapons, and ammunition, with the complementary legal registration process is planned to continue until 24 April 2003.