The concession of the Chisinau International Airport was the only way out for saving the institution, but there is no guarantee that the company will invest the whole sum. This is quasi-legal privatization that will be continued. The issue was discussed by MPs Valeriu Munteanu, Tudor Deliu and Sergiu Sirbu in the program “In Depth” on PRO TV channel, IPN reports.
Liberal MP Valeriu Munteanu said the process of quasi-legal privatization will continue and all the important facilities for the national economy will be appropriated by Russians. “There will come persons who will say that the privatization of a certain enterprise was the best solution. They will say so when they go to Brussels too, but we must have guarantees that such things will not repeat. I don’t think the promised €240 million will be invested as they said they will invest the money if the number of passengers increases,” he stated.
Communist MP Sergiu Sarbu said the former director of the Chisinau International Airport started the concession process five years ago. The EU provided a loan for modernizing the airport in 1995. The loan was fully repaid. But the tax of €9 was kept so as to collect money for the second modernization. For certain reasons, Moldova didn’t get the second loan of €45 million from the EBRD for the modernization of the airport, but the tax of €9 that was included when Vasile Tarlev was Prime Minister continues to be used.
In this connection, Valeriu Munteanu said that given that the Chisinau Airport serves 2 million travelers who pay this tax, the company that rented the airport will recoup their investments from this tax alone. He underlined that such things should have been discussed in public.
Liberal-Democratic MP Tudor Deliu said the airport has a launch paid that is in a very poor state. It needs investments, but should not become regional for others to use the made investments. Investments must be made in the airport’s renovation.
The Government decided to concede the airport in 2012. On May 29, 2013, it announced a tender contest and the winner was designated in August. It is a Russian company from Habarovsk, which will administer the airport over the next 49 years.
