DUSHANBE, June 22, Asia-Plus -- A facility for destruction of small arms and light weapons (SALW) was opened in Dushanbe today.  

According to information from the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, the opening of SALW destruction facility in Dushanbe represents the next stage of the OSCE Program on Small Arms and Lights Weapons and Conventional Ammunition (SALW/CA) in Tajikistan.  

Ambassador Alain Couanon, Head of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, a delegation of the OSCE ambassdors, representatives from Tajikistan’s power-wielding strucutres, MFA and other organizations.     

We will recall that a training centre to help rid Tajikistan of surplus conventional ammunition, was officially opened by the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe in November last year.  The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Centre and Demolition Ground (EOD Center) is located in Lohur.  The opening of the center was the first stage SALW/CA Program in Tajikistan.

Besides the EOD Center and the SALW destruction facility, the SALW/CA Program in Tajikistan also includes the construction and refurbishment of SALW storage facilities for different Tajik governmental agencies, and the construction of an ammunition storage facility for the Tajik State Border Protection Committee.