Expert: While they are talking about demilitarization, Moldova is being rearmed under NATO standards

Read it in Russian

The Moldovan government has called upon the republican parliament to ratify an agreement on support by the host nation NATO military exercises in the Republic of Moldova in September 2006. As the Moldovan Defense Ministry announced on July 29, such resolution was passed at a governmental session, a REGNUM correspondent reports. The large-scale NATO Cooperative Longbow/Lancer-2006 military exercises are to be held on September 11-29.

Deputy Commander of the General Staff, Moldovan Co-Director of the exercises Ion Savchuk has announced, the main task of the exercises is field training and training of General Staff and troops officers for strengthening operational cooperation between multinational corps in peacekeeping operations. Besides, material resources of the training ground in Bulboak, where most events are planned to be held within the exercises, will be improved.

According to a Moldovan political analyst, Anti-NATO initiative group coordinator Yevgeny Sholar, under cover of talks about demilitarizing the Republic of Moldova, in reality, rearming of its army is taking place under NATO standards. "On July 25, at the same training ground in Bulboak, where NATO large-scale military exercises are to be held soon, three missiles to Uragan Multiple Launch Rocket System from arsenal of the National Army of the Republic of Moldova were destroyed pathetically in presence of various military observers. Moldovan officials immediately started talking about alleged disarmament of the Republic of Moldova and called upon Transdnestr to disarm too. “

However, it is nothing but a myth designed for foreign consumption. It is a PR action to cover up the processes that are really taking place in the Moldovan Army under rule of North-Atlantic instructors. It is no secret that NATO-Moldova Individual Partnership Action Plan approved on May 22 envisages not disarmament, but ‘rearmament and modernization’ of the Moldovan National Army in accordance with standards of the North-Atlantic Alliance. Another military station corresponding with standards of accommodation for NATO troops has been put into operation in Lunga-Merkulesht air unit. On May 18, the Moldovan parliament adopted a law that relieved troops and military equipment of the North-Atlantic Alliance of necessity to be registered and obtain visas while entering Moldovan territory. It is worth mentioning, some time ago such processes of ‘modernization and rearmament’ took place in the Georgian army under sensitive guidance of Western instructors. It was also accompanied by talks about the most peaceful intentions. However, today the situation in Georgia has incandesced to the highest degree, and the country is practically on the verge of a civil war.

Intentions of the Georgian leadership have become more and more unambiguous and do not need any disguise. Today, Moldova is trying on the sheep's clothing no more needed in Georgia in an attempt to hide its wolf-like aspirations,” the expert is quoted as saying in an interview to a REGNUM correspondent.