Moldovan, British officials tackle defence-related issues

Chisinau, 14 January /MOLDPRES/ - Acting Defence Minister Valeriu Troenco has met Director of the International Security Policy at the British Ministry of Defence Nick Gurr. Attending the meeting also were British Ambassador to Moldova Philip David Batson and Military Attaché, Commander Karen McTear.

The officials addressed regional security, bilateral cooperation in the military sector and prospects of expanding the Moldovan-British partnership.

Troenco informed Nick Gurr about the current situation in the region, results and problems in the process of reforming and developing the National Army. Troenco praised Moldova’s acceptance into the Interoperability Platform and Defence Capacity Building Initiative during the NATO Summit in Wales. This would allow providing assistance to analyse Moldova's present defence capacities, as well as support for education and training.

Valeriu Troenco highlighted the support provided by Great Britain to reform the national defence system, especially for carrying out the Defence Strategic Analysis by British experts and other development projects, as well as for training Moldovan servicemen during the courses organised by the British Ministry of Defence in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

For his part, Nick Gurr voiced Great Britain’s willingness to further provide support to the Moldovan Defence Ministry in areas relevant for the defence and security sector. At the same time, Gurr appreciated Moldova’s participation in the international peacekeeping operations.

Nick Gurr, on a visit to Moldova, also met State Secretary of Defence Ministry Aurel Fondos and the head of the General Staff, commander of the National Army, Brigade General Igor Gorgan.

The Moldovan-British cooperation in the defence sector started in 1999.