• the consequences of the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the existence of uncontrolled territories within the state
• the presence of Russian military bases on Georgian territory that are not controlled adequately
• low level of integration of ethnic minorities and insufficient level of trust among various ethnic minorities living in the region
• low level of legal knowledge among the population
• ineffective law enforcement system, high crime rates, and population’s lack of trust in law-enforcement agencies and other state bodies
• ineffective state border controls

The authors have stated that the reduction of SALW proliferation may be achieved if the government pursues the following policy goals:

• increase in the level of trust both in the authorities and among different ethnic groups, since most weapons are acquired for defensive purposes
• a fundamental reform within the police to turn it into a more effective force that is less abusive of the population it is deemed to protect
• a greater degree of coordination within the law-enforcement and administrative system, possibly through a coordination unit set up within the executive, in order to bring together the work of different state bodies on the SALW related issues into one system
• a more effective use of the resources provided by the international community that has acquired considerable experience in curbing SALW proliferation and can provide assistance to Georgia in this respect