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MOLDOVA SELLS ARMS WITH EXPIRED SHELF LIFE BUT NOT TO LIBYA - DEFENSE MINISTER
Interfax
Sept 22 2011
Russia
An Ilyushin Il-76 jetliner, which came to Moldova from Libya's Benghazi
on September 12, departed to Armenia on September 14, Moldovan
Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta said at a special meeting of the
Parliamentary Commission for National Security, Defense and Public
Order on Wednesday.
He said the plane took aboard 30 tonnes of armaments and ammunition
with the expired shelf life.
"The entire national administration was informed about that arms deal.
We complied with the Moldovan laws and international conventions. The
plane was empty when it arrived in Moldova, and all the countries of
transit issued permits for that flight. When the arms were loaded,
the plane departed to its point of destination, Armenia," he said.
"The deal has nothing to do with Libya. It is just that the plane
came from Benghazi after having fulfilled another order," he said.
"The Moldovan Armed Forces are selling armaments with the expired
shelf life. The process started over a decade ago and continued by
the decision of the parliament and the government. We cannot dispose
of these armaments and hardware here, because we have no relevant
infrastructure. We are also unable to modernize them. Other countries
can do that, so we have decided to sell the arms," he said.
"The arms deal has a value of millions of dollars," the minister said.
He refused to give the precise sum.
Interfax
Sept 22 2011
Russia
An Ilyushin Il-76 jetliner, which came to Moldova from Libya's Benghazi
on September 12, departed to Armenia on September 14, Moldovan
Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta said at a special meeting of the
Parliamentary Commission for National Security, Defense and Public
Order on Wednesday.
He said the plane took aboard 30 tonnes of armaments and ammunition
with the expired shelf life.
"The entire national administration was informed about that arms deal.
We complied with the Moldovan laws and international conventions. The
plane was empty when it arrived in Moldova, and all the countries of
transit issued permits for that flight. When the arms were loaded,
the plane departed to its point of destination, Armenia," he said.
"The deal has nothing to do with Libya. It is just that the plane
came from Benghazi after having fulfilled another order," he said.
"The Moldovan Armed Forces are selling armaments with the expired
shelf life. The process started over a decade ago and continued by
the decision of the parliament and the government. We cannot dispose
of these armaments and hardware here, because we have no relevant
infrastructure. We are also unable to modernize them. Other countries
can do that, so we have decided to sell the arms," he said.
"The arms deal has a value of millions of dollars," the minister said.
He refused to give the precise sum.