NATO conference about Small Arms and Ammunition in Jordan

• Two members of the Spanish Verification Unit, together with a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in the international event.

The NATO-JORDAN Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons, jointly organised by NATO and the Jordanian Armed Forces, brought together representatives of allies and partner countries in the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom to reflect on experience and expertise in the management of small arms and conventional ammunition (SALW/CCA) and to exchange views on challenges and possible solutions at the national level, at the regional level, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and at the global level.

The event was attended by representatives of the SAF of Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Switzerland, Austria and France; international organisations (UN, EU, NATO, Interpol, International Customs Organisation) and non-governmental organisations (Small Arms Survey, Helo Trust). Spain was represented by the head colonel and the second head of the Verification Unit and the head of the Conventional Disarmament and Export Control Area of the Sub-Directorate General for Non-Proliferation and Disarmament of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The conference was divided into four panels:

• National approach to SALW control and stockpile management challenges and solutions in the MENA region.
• Regional initiatives in the MENA region, with a view to identifying lessons learned and best practices.
• Global initiatives; overview of progress and obstacles in the implementation of global initiatives and international instruments.
• Impact of developments in small arms manufacturing, technology and design on efforts to address illicit trafficking.

Among NATO's so-called "Trust Fund Projects", which provide assistance in various fields related to SALW/MC, is the JORDAN IV project, which aims to obtain an ammunition demilitarisation capability in Jordan. Switzerland and Spain were the lead countries for this project and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) was the implementing agency.