Facilities at Moldovan army's range upgraded as part of U.S. program for 5 years - Defense Ministry
CHISINAU. Aug 7 (Interfax) - The Moldovan Defense Ministry has denied reports that the United States would build new facilities at the Moldovan National Army's range in Bulboaca.
Several media said on Monday that the U.S. Navy is looking for a contractor of the construction and installation works in the Moldovan National Army's training range in the village of Bulboaca.
The Moldovan Defense Ministry's press service told Interfax that this refers to a grant the implementation of which has been underway for five years, rather than the new program of the construction of facilities in Bulboaca.
Moldova was accepted as partner in the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI). "The announcement was made by the officials from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense during the meeting with the former Defense Minister, Vitalie Marinuta, who had been paying a working visit to Washington, in August, 2012," the press service said.
As part of the GPOI, the Moldovan Defense Ministry was given a grant of $1.6 million, which are used to upgrade the infrastructure of the military base in Bulboaca.
"It enables officers and servicemen participating in UN peacekeeping missions to comply with the level of partners. These activities are not connected with NATO and do not affect the neutrality of the country, as suggested in the article. Through press-releases, the Defense Ministry has been constantly informing the public opinion regarding the grant offered within the GPOI," it said.
The GPOI is an initiative of the U.S., funded by the U.S. government by means of foreign assistance programs, and aiming to create and maintain capabilities of ensuring regional and international security. Assistance is provided to partner countries in order to train peacekeeping contingents deployed to foreign UN peacekeeping missions.
Moldovan President Igor Dodon has already told Russian reporters that "the U.S. plans to build eight new facilities at the Bulboaca range were not agreed with the presidential administration and are a provocation."
"I consider it as yet another provocation of the Moldovan government. The construction of military facilities should be agreed with the president, who is the commander in chief as well. This issue wasn't negotiated with us. We will deal with that," Dodon said.