Anti-personnel mine (APM) Stockpile Destruction

As part of the obligations deriving from the Ottawa Convention, Albania undertook the destruction of the APM Stockpile which commenced in 15 January 2001. NAMSA was the executing agency and the project sponsors were Canada and Albania with additional donations provided by Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

The APM stockpile was located in 57 military depots throughout Albania and the transport and delivery to the local demilitarization factory in Mjekes, Elbasan (former was organized by the Albanian Armed Forces. Demilitarisation was based on reverse assembly and recycling was a major aspect of the project. The last anti-personnel mine (APM) of 1,683,860, was demilitarised on 4 April 2002, 2 years ahead of obligatory period in terms of Ottawa Treaty.

Disassembling fiber AP mines		APM bodies used for manhole covers

The benefits of the project are:

• Albanian compliance with Article 4 of the Ottawa Treaty.
• Elevation of the status of Albania as a responsible party to the Ottawa Treaty.
• Increased national and regional security.
• Socio-economic benefits for the people of Albania.
• Enhancement of demilitarization capabilities in the region.