Defense minister: MIGs should have been sold long ago

Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta said the Ministry will continue to hold auctions to sell the six warplanes MIG-29 and will try to get the best price possible. “It is in our interests not to delay the sale of the planes. They should have been sold long ago,” the official said in a news conference, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The auction is open to private individuals and legal entities that have not been in conflict with the international law. “The planes cannot be bought by countries that support terrorism or on which international restrictions were placed,” said Vitalie Marinuta. The Ministry has held four auctions to sell the planes so far, but they were declared null and void as there were no bidders. Manufactured in 1988, the warplanes have never left the hangars since 1997. The MIGs, estimated at US$8.5 million, come with an all-or-none clause. The participation fee was set at $3,000 and bidders must also deposit 10% of the start price as security.