NATO and OSCE support an environment project in Chisinau

The Conference for launching the NATO/PfP-OSCE-ENV-SEC Project regarding the destruction of pesticides and noxious chemical substances in Moldova was held Tuesday November 7 in Chisinau. Attending the event, President Vladimir Voronin stressed the importance of launching the Project concerning the destruction of pesticides and noxious chemical substances, emphasizing that it is not related to the military domain, but to the social one. Head of state remarked that the given project’s implementation will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the OSCE Initiative “Security for Environment”. President expressed his gratitude on behalf of Moldovan authorities for the assistance provided by NATO and OSCE in carrying out certain projects of destroying the land mines and oxidant for rocket fuel component (“Melange”), as well as the present project. He thanked also the Belgian and Romanian authorities for their willingness to conduct the given project, as well as the Governments of another 12 states, which also contributed to its launching. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Romania to Moldova, Filip Teodorescu, said that while holding office in the NATO Embassy to Chisinau, from 2005 to 2006, Romania took over along with Belgium the role of coordinator of the Assistance Fund for destroying noxious chemical substances and pesticides in Moldova, under the aegis of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme as part of NATO-OSCE cooperation. According to the Romanian diplomat, the initiative represents a double premiere. It is the first NATO-OSCE joint assistance project, and at the same time, the first assistance project carried out as part of the Partnership for Peace, where a nongovernmental organization – Milieukontakt Dutch NGO – has an operational role. The role as executive agent of the project belongs to NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA), which carried out the feasibility study for project, coordinated by the United Kingdom. The project that represents at moment the most consistent initiative under the aegis of NATO in Moldova, has the objective to destroy 1600 tons of pesticides and noxious chemical substances, stockpiled in improper conditions in about 358 facilities from Moldova. PfP Assistance Fund includes voluntary contributions coming from partner and joined states, as well as from OSCE member states. Romania’s contribution is the most consistent one, worth EUR 200,000. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Turkey have teamed up for financing.