Thursday, March 28, 2024

List

On 26 January 2017 a joint conference to hand over the results of the “Security Upgrade of BiH Weapons and Ammunition Storage Sites” (SECUP) and to launch the project “Safety and Security Upgrade of BiH Weapons and Ammunition Storage Sites’’ (SAFE-UP) was held in Army Hall, Sarajevo. The event was hosted by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ambassador, H.E. Jonathan Moore, and attended by the BiH Minister of Defence, Marina Pendeš; Chief of the Joint Staff, Anto Jeleč; and Commander EUFOR, Major General Friedrich Schrötter.

Minister of Defence hails Security Upgrades a Success

After opening remarks from Ambassador Moore, the project manager of SECP, Mr Gerhard Faustmann, presented the results and achievements of the 3-year venture. This was followed by a speech from Minister Pendeš and then Mr Faustmann formally handed over the project results. The event finished with a brief from the project manager of SAFE-UP, Mr Alexei Sardin, which officially launched the start of the new project.

Minister Pendeš expressed her sincere gratitude to the OSCE Mission to BiH and to the donor countries: Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Great Britain, Turkey, Denmark, Czechia and Lichtenstein for their assistance in the successful implementation of the SECUP Project. She also expressed her conviction that the SAFE-UP Project would achieve the same success as its predeccessor.

COMEUFOR said: “I am proud of what this project has achieved and of EUFOR’s role in it; ensuring the coordination of the international community and providing specialist advice to the disposal teams. For the future, our contribution to the SAFE-UP project is a key element in our wider goal of achieving a safe and secure environment in BiH and I look forward to EUFOR’s continued involvement in this important venture.”

The aim of Project SECUP was to upgrade the security infrastructure at the BiH ammunition and weapons storage sites thus reducing the risk of weapons and ammunition proliferation and improving national Physical Security and Stockpile Management Standards. Project SECUP finished at the end of December 2016 so, in order to upgrade the security infrastructure of further prospective ammunition storage sites, project SAFE-UP was realized.
EUFOR’s role is to coordinate the international organizations and community, including acting as a link to the Armed Forces of BiH, in order to avoid duplication of effort. EUFOR also provides crucial expert technical advice on project implementation and explosives disposal.

Photo gallery...