There is a kind of competition in Moldova – who seeks the dismissal of the governor of the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) faster and more often, governor Dorin Dragutanu said when he was asked about the Liberal Reformist Party’s demand that he should be dismissed, made in a recent news conference, IPN reports.

The governor said these statements represent political positions and he does not want to comment on them.

“The Liberal Reformist Party is a parliamentary party that forms part of the government coalition. So, it has all the instruments needed to achieve its goals,” he underlined.

As to one of the causes for the dismissal formulated by the PLR, Dragutanu said the permission to buy a shareholding of up to 25% from Banca de Economii (BEM) was given to VAB Capital (Vnesheconombank) of Russia by a decision of the National Bank’s Administration Board of February 6, 2014.

“The NBM compiled a list of countries that do not obey the transparency rules and good practices in the financial – baking sector and in other areas. If a company from these countries expresses its intention to purchase shares in a Moldovan bank, the central bank is obliged not to give its consent to it. But, VAB Capital is not from a country included in this list,” stated the governor.

Dorin Dragutanu added that VAB Capital bought the shareholding that was earlier in the possession of the Russian company “Integrated Information Systems”. “No changes took place in the structure of the shareholders of Banca de Economii, if we refer to the country of origin,” he stated.

He also referred to the appointment of businessman Ilan Shor as president of the Board of Banca de Economii, who took out loans from the bank, which were later classed as bad loans. “We cannot ban a person from becoming shareholder or member of the Board of a bank for the reason that he took out loans from the bank. We expect Banca de Economii to present a report by which the given person would be recognized as affiliate person. The central bank laid down clear rules as regards the size of loans that can be released to affiliate persons. These loans cannot exceed 15% of the regulated capital of a bank,” said Dorin Dragutanu.

He added he knows from the media that parliamentary hearings on the transactions with shares in Banca de Economi and other problems faced in the financial-banking sector will be held on May 7, but he hasn’t been yet invited. If he is invited, he will accept the invitation.