Video-interview

Q: Susan Pond, welcome. You're the head of NATO's Partnership for Peace and Cooperation Programmes. Thank you for joining us today to talk about the Trust Fund policy and the types of projects that are supported under this policy.

To start off, what is the Trust Fund policy? What is it all about?

Susan Pond: The PFP Trust Fund Policy is an important part of the PfP tool kit and it's used by partners to help them assist them in their transformation of their armed forces and destruction of things like surplus small arms and light weapons and munitions.

Q: Could you give us examples of the type of work that is done under these projects? What is the value added of these projects?

Susan Pond: Well, these projects provide an opportunity for nations to ensure the safe destruction of surplus munitions, small arms and antipersonnel land mines, and we have projects that are ongoing or completed in countries like Albania, Ukraine and Moldova.

Q: And what types of arms, munitions do you destroy? How are these projects conducted?

Susan Pond: Well in the case, for example, of Ukraine and Moldova and Albania, we assisted these nations in destroying their stockpiles of antipersonnel land mines, and so for Albania and Moldova it meant that they could actually meet their obligations under the Ottawa Convention.

Q: And who decides who gets a project? How is one project selected and not another?

Susan Pond: Well, nations decide. Every project is developed and presented by one allied nation and one partner nation, so it really is a true partnership and they select what kind of project and all the details of the project, what should be included, how long it will run and all the other practical details.

Q: And, of course, speaking about the practicalities, who provides the money? Who finances these projects?

Susan Pond: The Trust Fund Policy has been set up so that we can have very flexible arrangements, and money is provided on a voluntary basis by nations and in some cases other international organizations. Our project currently ongoing in Albania is supported by 15 nations, partners and Allies, and a contribution from the EU.

Q: And could you maybe tell us about some of the practical challenges or difficulties that you have to overcome in implementing these projects?

Susan Pond: Well, we're fortunate. All the projects to date have been executed by NAMSA, which is the NATO Supply and Maintenance Agency in Luxembourg, and so they oversee all the very practical details.

But having been to many of these sites I can tell you some of these locations are in rather remote sites, and in fact, in Albania, the transportation of the 1.6 million mines that we destroyed were completed by the Albanian authorities by truck, and in some cases by donkey, and taking them to the sites from remote areas in the mountains.

So every project has its own unique characteristics and challenges that we have to overcome. But I'm very happy to say that all the projects to date have been completed on time, under budget, and with no accidents. So we're very proud of that record.

Q: You mentioned some of the projects, for example, in Moldova and Ukraine, helping them meet their land mine obligations. Do you foresee more projects in the future?

Susan Pond: Well, regrettably part of the transformation of armed forces means that you often have lots of surplus kit, be it munitions or small arms. And many nations, Allied nations and partner nations are facing the challenge of transforming their armed forces to meet the new security risks and challenges that we now face. And so I would foresee that there's going to be a continuing need for projects like this and for this very important PFP tool to ensure the safe destruction of these materials.

Q: And I see we have another guest with us in the studio. Could you tell us about what you've brought with you?

Susan Pond: Yes, well, this little fellow is a pelican made from recycled plastic that was part of our Ukrainian project. The plastic from the mines was recycled and so this is an example of what we do with the recycled materials. We've now made children's toys and these were, in fact, distributed to local orphanages in Ukraine.

Q: Is that idea behind every project, that the materials from the destruction are used in one way or another?

Susan Pond: All of the projects include a process of recycling. That could be precious metals, it could be the explosive material could be used in civil engineering products, or the plastic in this case was made to use children's toys. But the project must be... ensure that none of the by-products are used for military use. So they go to civil... either civil engineering or in this case a very worthwhile project to make toys.

Q: Thank you very much.

Susan Pond: Thank you.