UNMIK/PR/1020
Tuesday, 12 August 2003

Third Weapons Amnesty Program in September 2003

PRISTINA – DSRSG for Police and Justice Jean-Christian Cady signed an Executive Decision today declaring a Kosovo-wide weapons amnesty that would be in effect from 1 September to 30 September 2003. Mr. Cady signed the executive decision on behalf of the Acting SRSG Charles Brayshaw.
The Amnesty Program will allow Kosovans to surrender all weapons without fear of prosecution. During the amnesty period any person in Kosovo who possesses a weapon without valid authorization, may surrender the weapon to law enforcement authorities. If persons are found in possession of illegal weapons after the amnesty deadline, they will be liable to prosecution and imprisonment of up to eight years or a fine of up to euro 7,500.
KFOR and police will designate at least one stationary weapons collection point in each of the five regions in Kosovo. There will also be mobile weapons collection units that travel to specific locations. The locations of the collection points will be made widely known before the amnesty period starts.
Weapons can be transported to the collection centers in daytime only. The guidelines are as follows:
1. Weapons may be delivered on a private vehicle but not by public transport.
2. Transportation can only take place between 8am-6pm.
3. Travel must occur by the most direct route from the residence to the collection point.
4. No more than 10 weapons can be transported in a vehicle.
5. Weapons of any caliber can be so transported.
6. A maximum of 100 rounds of ammunition for each weapon being transported can be carried in a vehicle.
7. Transportation of hand grenades, rocket propelled grenades, shells, mines or any other explosives is prohibited.
8. All firearms must be unloaded and where possible dismantled during transportation
9. If the vehicle is stopped for any reason by a law enforcement officer, the operator must declare the weapons being transported to the officer.

10. Persons surrendering weapons under this amnesty program are not required to give any information regarding the weapons or themselves. All weapons collected will be destroyed.
Where a person does not wish or is not able to transport the weapons to a collection point, or where the weapons and ammunition are in quantities or types prohibited for transportation under the amnesty program, KFOR and Police will arrange to remove the weapons on the request of the person.
Persons who wish to surrender weapons can request an advance written note of authorization from KFOR or Police for the transportation of weapons. If persons surrendering weapons so desire, they would be issued written receipts for the weapons by the law enforcement authorities.
Announcing the weapons amnesty, Mr Cady said, “This weapons amnesty program is part of our continued efforts at taking out of circulation the huge quantity of unauthorized weapons in Kosovo. The danger of having illegal weapons at homes is their potential for converting an ordinary domestic or neighborhood dispute into a tragic saga of violence and death. People in Kosovo, who have weapons, should take this opportunity to surrender these weapons to Police or KFOR, as they can do so without being charged with an offence or suffering a penalty under the applicable law.”