Moldova will defend its airspace when there's enough money

Parliament today adopted in second reading a draft law providing for the purchase of 8 jet fighters and 8 helicopters for patrolling national airspace. While in the first reading the deadline for the purchase was set in 2015, in the second reading it was replaced with a clause that the law will take effect when financial resources allow it, Info-Prim Neo reports. The estimated cost of the purchase is $240 million. The proposal was endorsed only by the Alliance for European Integration, while the Communists criticized it and urged the Alliance to vote against it. During the first reading, Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta said that the Army’s helicopters were for transportation, not combat, while the MIGs that the Ministry was trying to sell couldn’t be used for interception purposes.