USA AMBASSADOR REFUTES RUMORS ABOUT SUSPENSION OF AMERICAN ASSISTANCE TO MOLDOVAN ARMY

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to Moldova James D. Pettit visited Moldovan army’s training range in Bulboaca on Thursday and refuted the statements that the US would stop providing assistance to the Moldovan Army.

“We did not stop the financing and keep providing support to improve conditions for Moldovan military men. We want that the National Army to be better trained for peacekeeping missions”, the Ambassador said.

At the same time, he expressed regret that this year Moldovan military did not participate in exercise abroad.

“We are discussing this issue. I hope that in the nearest time, the situation will change”, Pettit said.

As Infotag has already reported, this week former Minister of Defense, executive Chairman of the Party of National Unity Anatol Salaru said he intends to achieve attraction of republic’s President Igor Dodon to responsibility. According to him, due to the fact that Dodon did not allow Moldovan military to participate in exercise abroad, the US suspended the financing to the Moldovan army within the Foreign Military Financing program, as a result of which, the National army will not receive US$12.4 million.

James Pettit said that misunderstandings appeared around the topics of financing the Moldovan army and modernizing the Bulboaca training center.

“Our main goal is to contribute to modernization of training center. All objects are designed for training, there are no threats. It is planned to completely repair facilities, built in 1992. The tender for conducting works was already announced. Peacekeepers will be those who will benefit from training”, the diplomat said.

Acting head of the National Army Joint Staff Eduard Ohladciuc stressed that the project implies extension of casernes, establishing of checkpoints.

“Casernes will have a capacity of up to 450 servicemen. There were facilities for 50 military women. Before, they were accommodated in a reequipped auditorium. Also, the polygon will get its sewage treatment station”, Ohladciuc said.

Three years ago, modern shooting-grounds were built in Bulboaca with financial assistance of the US. US$1.2 million of the provided US$1.6 million have already been invested in modernizing the training center and military polygon.

The allocation of this grant is provided by the Global Peacekeeping Operation Initiative (GPOI) Moldova joined in 2012.

Recently, the Russia Today TV channel informed that the US will build several objects in the territory of Bulboaca training ground. After that, Russian Deputy Minister Dmitry Rogozin wrote in social networks that Americans will be training saboteurs there to send them to Transnistria. The defense ministry refuted these statements, publishing information about the conditions of grant mastering and the character of the conducted works.