U.S. military equipment will be removed from central Chisinau on Victory Day - Moldovan defense minister
CHISINAU. May 8 (Interfax) - Moldovan Defense Minister Anatol Salaru promised that there will be no U.S. military equipment in central Chisinau on May 9.
According to earlier reports, U.S. military equipment was delivered to central Chisinau for a display in the early hours of Sunday.
Salaru said when opening the display on the Grand National Assembly in front of the government building that the ministry had initialed planned to invite Russian military to participate in the display.
"U.S. representatives made that proposal to Chisinau. However, the Russian military refused to participate in a joint display of military equipment in the Moldovan capital," the Moldovan defense minister said.
"Initially, we wanted to hold the display on May 9, we wanted Russian military from the peacekeeping forces to participate in it, we sent an invitation to the Russian embassy, but they refused. For this reason, we made a decision to hold he display on May 8, when the entire Europe and the U.S. mark the end of the war," Salaru said.
He said the display has no political background.
"We are not friends with anyone against anyone, we are a neutral country, we are a country that does not wish evil to anyone," the minister said.
According to earlier reports, U.S. servicemen and military equipment have arrived in Moldova to participate in the Dragon Pioneer-2016 exercises on May 3. The exercises will last until May 20. They involve 165 servicemen of Moldova's National Army, and 198 servicemen of the U.S. Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment, part of the United States Army in Europe (USAREUR). Fifty-eight units of military hardware, including 11 mine disposal machines and 18 Hammer HMMWV, are involved in the exercises. There are also 29 multi-purpose vehicles capable of carrying medical equipment and medics and perform mine disposal work. There are also 11 vehicles intended solely for mine disposal work. The U.S. equipment will be provided to the Moldovan army after the exercises end on May 16.
The opposition Socialist Party condemned the delivery of NATO military equipment in Moldova, calling it "sacrilege against the people of Moldova."
