Montenegro

Montenegro Demilitarization Programme: disposal of hazardous toxic waste successfully completed

Representatives of the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the UNDP Montenegro met on the occasion of the successful finalization of their joint project “Disposal of Hazardous Toxic Waste”. They evaluated that the hazardous substances were successfully removed from the military depot in Pristan near Tivat. Approximately 128 tonnes of toxic hazardous waste (liquid propellant fuel and oxidiser for rockets) and 25.84 tonnes of Napalm thickener that used to present a humanitarian and environmental threat, were decanted and neutralized and shipped out of Montenegro for final disposal. After cutting of T-55 tanks, disposing of toxic military waste is the second successfully realised project within the Montenegro Demilitarization Programme (MONDEM), a joint programme of the Ministry of Defence, the OSCE and the UNDP.

H. E. Mr. Boro Vučinić, Minister of Defence of Montenegro said that the aim of the project was achieved – disposal of hazardous toxic waste in a safe, efficient and effective way. „Destruction of hazardous chemical substances does not only contribute to an increased security but also to the quality of the environment, which represents good a base for economic development of Montenegro,“ said Minister Vučinić.

 
H.E. Mr Ronald J. P. M. van Dartel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands said that 1,3 million euros have already been allocated to assist to the MONDEM Programme. He said that there were still large stockpiles of surplus weapons and ammunition representing a serious security threat for citizens. „We want to help in destruction of the surplus of battle tools and it should be done as soon as possible, because postponing or waiting can only make the risk and the price higher,“ Ambassador van Dartel concluded.

 
H.E. Ambassador Paraschiva Badescu, Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, evaluated that owing to the project “Disposal of hazardous toxic waste” a component of MONDEM Programme was successfully realised, which is very important for Montenegro because substantial stockpiles of hazardous substances won’t be at its territory any more.

“The Montenegro Demilitarization Programme utilizes and develops the local capacities to contribute to the reform of the security sector and ultimately to the overall sustainable development of the country,” said Mr. Alexander Avanessov, UNDP Resident Representative/UN Resident Coordinator. He said that the aim was to dispose the toxic hazardous waste in a safe, efficient and effective way that complies with all relevant international and EU environmental and safety legislation. “I can proudly say that we achieved that aim,” Mr. Avanesov added.

 

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After the media conference Ambassador Badescu, Minister Vučinić, Ambassador van Dartel and Mr. Avanesov visited the Military Base in Danilovgrad where they witnessed the cutting of heavy weapons. On that occasion, British Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Kevin Lyne handed over the keys of the military trucks, a donation of the UK Government for the needs of further realization of the MONDEM Programme.

Destruction of a ZIS 76mm cannon by method of cutting is an announcement for the next project within the MONDEM Programme which refers to the destruction of heavy weapons. A tender procedure for selection of a company which will do that job is in the process as well as completing of a list of surplus of heavy weapons to be cut. It is expected that that MONDEM phase would start by the end of this year.

Ambassador Lyne, who briefly drove one of the trucks in the Military Base in Danilovgrad, reiterated that destruction of surplus weapons is a very important project for Montenegro. General Dragan Milosavljević, Chief of Staff of the Army of Montenegro, thanked for the donation and said the trucks would be used for transport of ammunition and military means.

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“Disposal of Hazardous Toxic Waste” is a component of Montenegro Demilitarization Programme (MONDEM), a joint project of the Montenegrin Ministry of Defence, the OSCE and the UNDP. 

Montenegro has a stockpile of over 9,900 tonnes of surplus conventional ammunition that requires destruction, disposal or demilitarization. In this stockpile there was approximately 128 tonnes of toxic hazardous waste (liquid propellant fuel and oxidiser for rockets) and 25.84 tonnes of Napalm that used to present a humanitarian and environmental threat. The toxic waste was stored at the military depot in Pristan, Boka Bay. It was decanted and neutralized by the Sweedish firm “SAKAB” and then shipped from the Port of Bar to the Port of Geteborg, Sweden. The final disposal will take place in the Swedish town Kumla.
 
This project was financed by the Government of the Netherlands with $615.600, and it achieved its aim to dispose of this toxic hazardous waste in a safe, efficient and effective way that complies with all relevant international and EU environmental and safety legislation, and hence to existing international ‘best practice’.

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Beside disposal of hazardous toxic waste, the MONDEM Programme also includes disposal of heavy waepons and surplus ammunition and establishment of safe ammunition storage. The MONDEM main goals are to:

• Promote MNE  as sensible member of pre-accession countries in Europe;
• Promote MNE as safe tourist destination;
• Reduce potential risks to the local communities living near ammunition depots;
• Ensure that these military weapons, through their destruction, will never fall in the hands of criminals and terrorists;
• Protect the environment through the destruction of hazardous chemical waste, the environmentally benign destruction of conventional ammunition and the recycling of heavy weapons systems into commercial materials;

Promote Sustainable Development through the conversion of surplus military property for civilian use.