18.01.2013.
Establishing NATO Trust Fund for the destruction of surplus ammunition and ordnance
Representative NATO Support Agency (NSPA) David Tovndrov visited the Ministry of Defense in order to prepare a feasibility study for the establishment of the NATO Trust Fund in the period 15 to 17 January.Visits of the NSPA was realized with the support of the UK Defence Attaché Colonel William Inglis, as the United Kingdom took the role of a leading country in the establishment of the NATO Trust Fund for the destruction of surplus ammunition by engaging TRZ Kragujevac, in cooperation with the NSPA as the executing agency for the project .
The Ministry of Defence has in the previous period made significant results in the reduction of surplus ordnance, mostly using its own resources. In addition, the Ministry of Defence also used NATO Trust Fund’s mechanisms for the purpose of resolving the surplus weapons and ammunition back in 2003 while also taking part in the project of resolving the problem surplus of small arms and light infantry weapons while from 2005 to 2007 they participated in the project of resolving the surplus of antipersonnel mines.By destroying the surplus of ammunition in Serbia significant effects are achieved in reducing the risk and increasing the security of the storage and management of these resources and contribute to regional stability and security.
So far, several countries have expressed interest to be donors in the new NATO Trust Fund, and the Ministry of Defence will also use its own resources to participate in this project.
During the visit, representatives of the NSPA and the British Embassy visited the Technical Overhaul Institute Kragujevac and talked with Assistant Minister for material resources Jasminka Todorov, chief of the Defense Technologies of the Sector for Material Resources Brigadier General Bojan Zrnic and representatives working on the project from competent organizational units of the Ministry of Defense and General Staff Serbia.Cooperation will continue in the future through harmonization of technical elements related to the launching projects.
