|
Georgia/South Ossetia
Since early 2000, under the aegis of the OSCE, the joint peacekeeping
forces (JPKFs) have been conducting a programme of voluntary handover of Small Arms
and Light Weapons in the Tskhinvali region, South Ossetia, Georgia.
The programme targeted villages in the area of conflict, through the establishment of arms collection points by local
authorities. All arms handed in were registered and receipts given upon delivery.
The local population was said to have responded positively and significant numbers of
weapons have been collected. Arms collected were subsequently destroyed, starting with weapons stored by the
JPKFs.
The initiative took place in the framework of an exchange programme whereby, upon destruction,
local authorities were rewarded with equipment (communication, information, transport, etc.). The programme
aimed at initiating cooperation between the Georgian and the South Ossetian police, as a confidence building measure under the aegis of the
OSCE.
If viewed as being successful, the programme may be expanded at a later stage whereby the
voluntary handover of weapons by the local population will be rewarded through the financing of public works, agricultural material, etc.
For the first phase, the EU approved the provision of EUR 90 000 to be
used in the purchase of equipment in support of the programme (2000/803/CFSP of
14.12.2000).
|
