U.S. welcomes Moldova's intention to increase defense budget
CHISINAU. June 25 (Interfax) - The U.S. welcomes Moldova's plans to increase its defense budget and reform its armed forces, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said at a meeting with Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti in Chisinau on Thursday.
Timofti and Mabus discussed regional security and aspects of cooperation between the two countries in various sectors, the Moldovan presidential press service told Interfax. Timofti welcomed the U.S. assistance to Moldova, including that intended to modernize the country's military-technological sector, it said.
"Moldova remains a neutral state, we are open to cooperation with NATO within the limits set by the national legislation and international law, and I'll stress the need to further modernize Moldova's military forces with support from external partners," he said.
Mabus praised Moldova's intention to increase its defense budget, noting that the armed forces reform should go in parallel with the reform of its judicial system and more active steps against corruption.
Moldova's defense expenditures in 2014 amounted to 354.7 million lei ($25 million), having grown from 285 million lei ($15 million) in 2013. This figure is equal to about 0.3% of GDP. Moldovan Defense Minister Viorel Cibotaru insisted on increasing the defense budget to at least 1% of GDP to improve the country's defense capability amid the worsening situation in the region.
The NATO defense ministers endorsed a package of measures to help Moldova improve its defense capability at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday.
