Defense minister denies allegations about favoring Nato

Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta is dismissing the allegations made by MP Vladimir Turcan about him being a “promoter of Nato values in Chisinau”, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a public statement from MoD. “We regret profoundly that experienced politicians like Mr Vladimir Turcanu are venturing to make comments based on unverified information, which is totally unfounded and contrary to fact”, the statement reads. “It should be stressed that in the interview with Radio Romania and Agerpres, which is being cited by Vladimir Turcanu, one of the questions addressed to Minister Vitalie Marinuta made reference to Moldova's neutrality status. When being asked whether neutrality was the best policy for the security of Moldova, the minister of defense said the following, and we quote: “As long as the Constitution stipulates that we are a neutral country, we shall follow the prescriptions of the existing fundamental law”. “We consider it to be opportune to suggest Mr Vladimir Turcanu to rely on first-hand information, that is, to listen to the interview...”, it was said in the MoD's statement Vladimir Turcan, the leader of the United Moldova Party, demanded on Thursday that Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta be dismissed. “It looks as if Mister Marinuta lost orientation and cannot realize whether he is Minister of Defense or promoter of the Nato values in Chisinau”, Turcan stated, referring to the interview. Turcan said the five United Moldova's legislators will demand that Vitalie Marinuta be dismissed at Friday's Parliament sitting.