With just 100,000 firearms
registered in a population of over 8 million, the main light
weapons concern in Bulgaria is the arms industry. Before the
collapse of the Iron Curtain, this industry contributed 20%
of the GDP, but has since been badly hit by the recession.
Bulgaria has achieved notoriety for being willing to sell arms
to anyone. Large contracts have been placed by India, Iran,
Iraq and Turkey. Congo, Sierra Leone and West Bengal have received
Bulgarian weapons. Until 1997, the majority of arms illegally
purchased by the UNITA rebels in Angola came from Bulgaria.
IANSA members feel that matters have greatly improved, but
plans to join NATO may result in weapons that are not compatible
with NATO being sold for badly needed hard cash. In this regard,
it is reassuring that the government has recently entered an
agreement with UNDP/SEESAC to destroy thousands of weapons.
Organisations
Black
Sea Law Community
Centre for the
Study of Democracy
UNDP Bulgaria
SEESAC
Bulgaria
Other links
Report
on the arms industry (2002) from Saferworld (PDF) |
