One third of pesticides and dangerous chemical products stocked in Moldova's districts will be repacked by the Defence Ministry's operational teams until February 2007, in order to be destroyed later on. A statement to this effect was made today during the official launch of a project elaborated by NATO, the OSCE and Moldova.

Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin told the launching conference that the project is very important for the state, as it helps avoid a danger for Moldova and its citizens.

Participating in the event, Ecology and Natural Resources Constantin Mihailescu said that a French company will destroy the substances, and another company from Denmark will monitor the whole process - from repackaging to destruction - in order to avoid any incidents. At the same time, the minister stressed that about 1,180 tons of pesticides and dangerous chemical products out of about 4,000 tons stocked throughout Moldova will be destroyed at this stage, and the rest of them will be destroyed later on.

Defence Minister Valeriu Plesca said that the event is of great importance for Moldova both from both political viewpoint, as it will help Moldova consolidate its position as a NATO partner state, and social viewpoint as it will lead to ensuring a better protection of the environment in Moldova.

Plesca underlined that about 540,000 euros has been allotted to re-pack the pesticides and dangerous chemical products, project which is to be concluded in January 2007. At the same time, the minister added that NATO offered a grant of over 140,000 euros to Moldova to create an analytical laboratory and to identify the nature of pesticide stocks.

The project started in June 2003 during a working meeting between Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin with NATO Secretary General George Robertson, during which The Moldovan side asked for assistance to improve the environment by destroying the stocks of pesticides and dangerous chemical products. // Moldpres


Publication date: 07 November 2006   

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