Moldovan parliament turns down simple motion of censure against defence minister

18:36 | 17.06.2016 Category: Political

Chisinau, 17 June /MOLDPRES/ - The parliamentary majority today turned down a simple motion of censure, initiated by the MPs of the Party of Socialists (PSRM) against Defence Minister Anatol Salaru.

In the motion, the PSRM MPs invoked that, in the last two months, more complexes of anti-air missiles were taken from Danceni and Bacioi settlements and carried to the Marculesti Airport, northern Moldova, in order to be subsequently sold. Three anti-missile installations were sold by the Moldovan Defence Ministry against a sum of 660,000 dollars.

“Unexplainable actions have taken place under the leadership of Liberal Anatol Salaru. He dismisses the true professionals from the ministry. The destruction of the army will lead to the disappearance of the state,” more PSRM MPs said.

Anatol Salaru rejected the charges of PSRM lawmakers. “First of all, these three complexes are nothing but scrap iron, which was to be sold back in 2001, under a parliament decision. Secondly, the ministry is not the one to sell weapons; it is in charge of the policies in the defence sector. The decision is taken by a special commission. Also, assessments are made by the others,” Salaru said.

The official added that fears of an eventual accession to the NATO were groundless too. “We do not want the NATO and Russia to settle their problems on the territory of Moldova. We must not be a testing shooting range for one or other. The NATO, for the time being, neither wants nor demands coming with its army to Moldova. It just helps modernize the National Army,” Anatol Salaru said.

The defence minister said he had invited Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, along with a contingent of 35 servicemen, to participate in a parade on the occasion of Moldova’s Independence Day, due on 27 August.

Last week, the parliament rejected a simple motion of censure by the PSRM faction against Education Minister Corina Fusu. Today, the Socialists filed a simple motion of censure against Transport and Roads Infrastructure Minister Iurie Chirinciuc and last week – against Finance Minister Octavian Armasu.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)

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