Minister of Defense and Head of OSCE Mission to Moldova Pay Visit to the Military Base in Floresti

CHISINAU, July 25, 2019 — Minister of Defense Pavel Voicu and National Army Commander, Brig. Gen. Igor Gorgan, together with the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Claus Neukirch, have paid today a joint visit to the Military Base in Floresti city in order to assess implementation of the OSCE Mission’s project on explosive risk mitigation aiming to improve the general safety and security of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova living in the neighborhood of ammunitions depots.

The officials attended the site demonstration on visual inspection and management of ammunition stockpiles at the unit’s depot and familiarized themselves with the activity of the military specialists involved in these works.

The Minister of Defense expressed his appreciation for the OSCE’s contribution to helping Moldova in fulfilling the country’s international and national commitments and responsibilities with respect to Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), as well as conventional ammunition.

During the visit, the Head of the Mission Claus Neukirch handed over to Brig. Gen. Igor Gorgan, Chief of National Army General Staff, National Army Commander, the keys from two medical first-aid and sanitary containers.

“The Mission supports the National Army of Moldova in its efforts to ensure proper and secure management of storages of small arms and munitions, which will both make Moldova safer and set a good example for the region,” Neukirch said.

The Mission has been supporting the Ministry of Defense in the area of SALW since 2006. To this end, the National Army of Moldova was assisted in destroying outdated conventional ammunition, upgrading stockpile management and security of the remaining stocks. Most recently in 2016, multiple storage facilities were renovated and security and surveillance systems were installed.

The Mission has also facilitated training for Moldovan officers on Physical Security Stockpile Management.