The Ministry of Internal Affairs was supplied with IT equipment worth around €170,000 for the operationalization of the electronic weapons registry at the national level by the European Union and the United Nations Development Program through its regional project SEESAC (South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons), IPN reports, quoting a press release of UNDP.
According to UNDP, the operationalization of the electronic weapons registry at the national level will significantly enhance the recording and data keeping by the police related to legal firearms in the Republic of Moldova. “Today we are witnessing the initiation of a new chapter in the activity of the Police of the Republic of Moldova, when the digitalization of processes transposes into reality, step by step,” Viorel Cernauteanu, head of the General Police Inspectorate of Moldova, said in the handover ceremony.
The delivered IT equipment for the weapons registry has been provided through the EU Council Decision 2019/2111“in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition” which is contributing further to improved security in the South East Europe and in the EU by combatting the threat posed by illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in and from South East and East Europe.
“With this initiative we are supporting the work conducted by the national authorities in advancing further in the field of small arms and light weapons control. In line with the EU-Republic of Moldova Association reform agenda and in the context of the new candidate status of the country, this EU funded action is an additional contribution to security and the fight against organized crime. This is a key priority for EU cooperation with the Republic of Moldova, for the benefit of its citizens,” said Jānis Mažeiks, EU Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.
Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova, noted that in these uncertain times, it is imperative to keep developing innovative solutions to address contemporary security challenges. “The operationalization of the electronic registry for a fast and digital record keeping of firearms is an important component of the comprehensive support that we are providing to the authorities towards such effective and efficient solution in tackling the firearms related threats,” he stated.
The electronic register of weapons was developed with the financial support of the EU within the Budget Support Program for Police Reform 2016-2020. This donation is a continuation of the support that UNDP and SEESAC have provided to the authorities in the Republic of Moldova with EU’s financial assistance in ensuring an effective and efficient control of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
