Parliament adopted a bill to transfer the plot on which the National Stadium was situated to the United States on a reimbursable basis for constructing the new building of the U.S. Embassy on this by 65 votes in favor. The Socialist MPs didn’t take part in the vote as they left the assembly hall dissatisfied with the initiative, IPN reports.

The publicly owned plot of the National Stadium, which is 5.1814 ha in area, hasn’t been used for many years and is falling into ruin. The bill provides that the Government will ensure the determination of the value of the plot, the negotiation of the price and signing of the sale-purchase contract.

Socialist MP Vasile Bolea expressed his dissatisfaction with the initiative, saying Moldova offers sports facilities in exchange for financial advantages without building other spots complexes instead.

Communist MP Vladimir Voronin said the given transaction represents bribe offered to the U.S. for not looking for the stolen bank funds and the Government this way betrays the national interests, committing a crime against the people and against the sports sector.

Lib-Dem Tudor Deliu proposed an amendment providing that the money obtained as a result of the transaction, which is to be transferred to the public budget, should be later allocated for building a new National Stadium. The amendment hasn’t been yet supported.

The National Stadium located on Tighina St was built in 1952 and was demolished in 2007 owing to its old infrastructure. The attempts made by foreign investors to build a new arena failed.

The term “on a reimbursable basis” is used with reference to contracts and conventions by which the signatory parties assume obligations in exchange for particular advantages.