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Security levels at Macedonian ammunitions storage site improved

Xinhua, December 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

The security level at Macedonia's Defense Ministry main storage site for small arms, light weapons and ammunitions has significantly improved because of an EU­-funded upgrade worth 255,000 euros(266,500 U.S. dollars), the Defense Ministry said in a press release Friday.

The completion of such upgrade was marked at a handover ceremony at Erebino on Friday, the ministry said.

The upgrade designed to ensure safer storage of small arms and light weapons, was funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through its regional SEESAC project dedicated to halting the proliferation of illicit weapons.

Present at the ceremony were Macedonian Defense Minister Zoran Jolevski, UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton and Tibor Varadi, political advisor at the European Union delegation in Skopje, local media reported.

According to UNDP representative, the proliferation of illicit firearms remains a challenge across south east Europe. However, she noted that the upgrade at Erebino base marked a big step forward in keeping guns and ammunition out of the wrong hands.

Official sources from the Defense Ministry said that the upgrade was conducted in accordance with the international security standards.

They added that the enhancements of security infrastructure of "Erebino" armament and storage facility included refurbishment of the perimeter fence, installing a new entrance gate, securing windows and doors, upgrading electrical installation and exterior lighting and procurement and installation of a full perimeter video surveillance.

This is the second upgrade in Macedonia after a similar EU­-funded upgrade of the Ministry of Interior's main surplus weapons and ammunition storage facility in Orman, on the outskirts of Skopje which was also completed by the UNDP in 2015, the report said. Endit