18/12/2003
Fourth European Security And Defence Operation Gets Under Way

This week the European Union launched a new police mission in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "EUPOL Proxima" will succeed the EU's "Concordia" peacekeeping military mission, which has expires. It is the fourth European Security and Defence Policy operation - two of the three others were also in the Balkans while the third was in the DR Congo). "Proxima" is also the second EU police mission and demonstrates the EU's commitment to the consolidation of stability and the rule of law.

The Commission say that the promotion of European standards of policing in FYROM is part of the strategy of supporting the reform process, essential for the development of a stable and democratic state. The EU, the leading donor, will spend a total of € 54 million during 2000-2004 to support reforms in these areas. The EU's Member States will contribute in kind through the secondment of staff. EU police officers will wear their national police uniforms and an EU badge. They will not be armed and local police will remain responsible for executive tasks.

Meanwhile the UN reported this week that almost 8,000 illegal weapons have been surrendered to authorities in FYROM under a voluntary disarmament scheme and amnesty. Rocket launchers, land mines, hand grenades, assault rifles, AK-47s and detonators for lethal explosives were among the 7,751 weapons handed in during the 45-day amnesty, which ended this week. Officials reported that many of the weapons were returned from areas that have recently seen armed conflict.

"The citizens of the country have taken another step forward on the path towards a future of peaceful co-existence, rule of law and international integration" said Frode Mauring," Resident Representative in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, of the UN Development Programme which has managed the Amnesty.