Defense minister optimistic about Moldovan army's future
Moldova's National Army will reach European standards and will join the family of Western armies within maximum 10 years, presumes Moldovan Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta.
At his news conference given on the occasion of the Army's 19th anniversary today, he stated that the Moldovan servicemen and military specialists are distinguished for their high professional background and readiness degree, that they are ready to manage whatever ordeals, and take part in UN peacekeeper missions.
Reviewing the achievements of 2010, the minister stated the chief of them were "strengthening of the Army, and the raising of its positive image in citizens' eyes".
"To become a really up-to-date army, we need new equipment and combat materiel. Despite our being 100% provided with everything necessary, most of the equipment we have was manufactured yet in the Soviet Union times", explained the minister.
In such a situation, minister Marinuta believes the Moldovan State ought to attach more importance to the national armed forces, and Budget financing ought to be built up to minimum 500 million lei a year against 205 million lei presently.
"A soldier of the Moldovan National Army costs nearly 22 thousand lei (under US$2 thousand) a year to the State Budget. However, this year we are projecting to provide new uniforms for our military, which will require extra expenditures. We also hope to obtain new combat materiel in the nearest future to be better prepared, in case of need", said Vitalie Marinuta.
Journalists asked the minister to comment the military parade held in Tiraspol on September 2 on the occasion of the rebel Transnistrian republic's 20th anniversary, when several hundred military and a whole fleet of armored combat vehicles appeared in the city's central square.
Marinuta replied it was a political show, sabre rattling and an attempt "to play muscles... I assure you Moldova's National Army disposes of a sufficient arsenal of weaponry, much greater than in the Transnistrian region. But we do not seek to bring all this for a show into the square, though, if we decide so, we can certainly organize such parade, and will probably have it next year on the occasion of the Army's 20th anniversary".
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