Launch of new small arms and light weapons report, Kosovo

July 2009 - On Tuesday 21 July, Saferworld launched a new report in Pristina entitled ‘Ready or not? Exploring the prospects for collecting illicit small arms and light weapons in Kosovo’. The report analyses people’s perceptions of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Kosovo, and reviews previous weapons collection initiatives in Kosovo, as well as in the wider region, gathering a number of ‘lessons’ learned from these experiences. On this basis, recommendations are offered on how to increase the chances of success of any forthcoming weapons collection initiative. The report is launched in the context of a new law on weapons currently under review in Kosovo. Eckart Blaurock, Deputy Head of Mission for the German Embassy in Pristina opened the launch by expressing the German Government’s concern about the issue of illicit SALW in Kosovo and its support for the work of Saferworld and FIQ. The launch was well attended, with representatives from local police, Ministry of Interior, international institutions (ICO, EULEX and UNDP) and local non-governmental organisations, and was subsequently covered well in the local print and electronic media. The report is available in English, Albanian and Serbian. July 2009 - On Tuesday 21 July, Saferworld launched a new report in Pristina entitled ‘Ready or not? Exploring the prospects for collecting illicit small arms and light weapons in Kosovo’. The report analyses people’s perceptions of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in Kosovo, and reviews previous weapons collection initiatives in Kosovo, as well as in the wider region, gathering a number of ‘lessons’ learned from these experiences. On this basis, recommendations are offered on how to increase the chances of success of any forthcoming weapons collection initiative. The report is launched in the context of a new law on weapons currently under review in Kosovo. Eckart Blaurock, Deputy Head of Mission for the German Embassy in Pristina opened the launch by expressing the German Government’s concern about the issue of illicit SALW in Kosovo and its support for the work of Saferworld and FIQ. The launch was well attended, with representatives from local police, Ministry of Interior, international institutions (ICO, EULEX and UNDP) and local non-governmental organisations, and was subsequently covered well in the local print and electronic media. The report is available in English, Albanian and Serbian.