Welcome RASR Initiative members and friends! This discussion blog has been set up so that those involved in the RASR Initiative may discuss current topics and give feedback on issues of concern. It will also help maintain contact with other members after workshop activities have ended--thus keeping the conversation going long after the in-person meetings are over--as well as in the run up to an event--to help get the creative juices flowing before face-to-face contact is made.

On May 6-7, 2009, the United States government hosted a workshop in Zagreb, Croatia to launch the South East Europe Regional Approach to Stockpile Reduction (RASR). The workshop was attended by representatives from the Ministries of Defense and General Staffs of Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia; U.S. government officials from the Departments of State and Defense; and representatives of NATO, NAMSA, OSCE, UNDP. Also attending were representatives from EOD Solutions, the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance, the Mine Action Information Center, the Regional Center for Security Cooperation, Small Arms Survey, and the Southeast Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC). Kosovo and Macedonia were also invited to the first RASR workshop, but declined to attend, though they may participate in future meetings. Participants identified five priority issues where the RASR can facilitate greater coordination amongst actors involved in conventional weapons reduction: 

1. national and regional policy
2. infrastructure
3. training, education, and capacity building
4. sharing of information and best practices
5. standardization

These five topics serve as the basis for the discussion that will take place on this blog. We suggest you use the menu at the left to find out more about each topic before reading the discussion.

If you wish to be a guest blogger for us, please contact us at info@rasrinitiative.org and let us know. We hope to incorporate the ideas of many in this forum, so please don't hesitate to post your thoughts.

We look forward to hearing from all of you, and encourage you to send us feedback at info@rasrinitiative.org. 

Thanks!

- The RASR Team