Ammunition Transportation Course Ends at Ministry of Defense

CHISINAU, March 30, 2017 — The course on safe transportation of ammunition ended today at the Ministry of Defense. On this occasion, the institution held a ceremony attended by Chief of General Staff, National Army Commander, Brigadier Gen. Igor Cutie, Ambassadors of Switzerland and Austria, as well as representatives of OSCE Mission to the Republic of Moldova.

Brigadier Gen. Igor Cutie congratulated the 15 course participants and handed them the graduation diplomas. The National Army Commander specified that the organization of such a course in the National Army benefits the defense institution, as well as the military staff working with weapons and ammunition stockpiles. “The training activities of this kind, that are so useful for our institution, contribute to the optimal implementation of the storage conditions for National Army ammunition and its transportation under maximum security conditions, in compliance with the best international practices”, said Gen. Cutie.

The National Army Commander appreciated the efforts made by the multinational group of trainers, the OSCE Mission to Moldova, and the contributing countries — Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and Austria — in planning and organizing the Course. As a result, the National Army has now a team of Moldovan instructors who are trained in this sector and service members trained on ammunition management.

As a sign of gratitude for contributing to National Army service members’ training, the international instructors were awarded the Medal “For Strengthening the Brotherhood in Arms”.

According to Chief of Weapons and Ammunition Center, LTC Grigore Rata, the Course on safe transportation of ammunition was held within March 20-30, 2017. The course was attended by National Army service members, as well as representatives of the General Police Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Justice.

The source specified that the participants were trained by National Army trainers and experts from Switzerland and Germany on safe transportation of ammunition, anti-inflammatory security in transporting and handling ammunition, as well as other ammunition and explosive materials transportation methods, under security conditions, in compliance with the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.

The course is part of a training project on ammunition and weapons stockpile management organized under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Defense and OSCE on the implementation of the Complex Program on Small Arms and Light Weapons and conventional weapons in the Republic of Moldova, signed on October 28, 2010.