OPENING OF NEW AIRPORTS IN MOLDOVA IS RATHER IN MOSCOW’S INTERESTS – EXPERT

The opening of new airports in Moldova seems to be in the interests of Moscow rather than of Chisinau, believes Ion Tabirta of the “Viitorul” [“Future”] Institute of Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS Viitorul).

He wrote in his latest research that the idea of the development of regional airdrome infrastructure in Moldova is being actively promoted by Prime Minister Ion Chicu and President Igor Dodon, who stated recently the possibility of opening airports in Ceadir-Lunga (southern Moldova) and in the country’s second-largest city of Balti (northern Moldova), where a suitable landing strip is available. Moreover, governmental specialists are considering also an alternative variant – in Marculesti, where a military airbase used to function in the Soviet period.

“The airport issue is being actively promoted on the official level, though information on it is scarce. President Dodon stated that he is thus going to put an end to the monopoly of the Chisinau airport. However, many analysts share the opinion that the opening of new airports in the small republic has no economic grounds under it and, therefore, is rather a political enterprise, the more so that the Chisinau airport’s technical potential is used not according to a maximum extent”, said Ion Tabirta.

In his opinion, “If the Moldovan leadership are insisting on this step so strongly, without an economic substantiation or transparency, then the airport opening is connected with the political interests of Moscow rather than of Chisinau”.

“So far, Russia has no direct overland communication with the Transnistrian region and whole Moldova – only by air. Therefore, the development of this element of infrastructure in Moldova should be in Russia’s geopolitical interests”, presumes the Chisinau expert.

Tabirta reminded about the long-debated idea of building a civilian airport in Tiraspol as well as about the Moldovan river/sea port of Giurgiulesti [on the Lower Danube River], “which is also mentioned in President Dodon’s statements, who speaks about the coming of a Russian investor, but would not provide details”.

“If the incumbent Government of Moldova and President Igor Dodon are intending to go further and open new airports, then this enterprise must be transparent to a maximum-possible extent and based on a sound feasibility study. And in case of a state-private partnership, we all must have a clear idea about who the new investors are”, believes Ion Tabirta.