Integrated communication equipment for 19 units of transport and high-capacity radio relays for 16 TETRA locations were purchased by the Border Police within the project “Strengthening capacities for protection and socioeconomic inclusion of Ukrainian refugees, third-country nationals and host communities in Moldova”. The purchases were possible with the financial support of the Government of the Republic of Italy. The project budget for the Border Police, which included other activities, was over €1.3 million, IPN reports.
Adrian Efros, Minister of Internal Affairs, noted that security in Moldova was drastically affected when the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine without being provoked. The Border Police coped with the large wave of refugees who were fleeing the war. The purchased equipment will strengthen the capacity to maintain security on the state border at the highest level. It will enable the border guards to perform interventions at EU standards.
Lars Johan Lönnback, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Moldova’s Chief of Mission, appreciated the actions taken by the Border Police during the crisis that started together with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He said that it is important to have real-time awareness, efficient coordination of resources and an operational response that corresponds to people’s real needs. It is also important that the response be early and measurable. Through the equipment, information is transmitted in real time and goes to the central office, which is very efficient.
Border Police chief Ruslan Gălușcă said that it is a new Border Police concept that will optimize processes and streamline the patrols’ capacity during the service. The equipment comes to improve the exchange of information and data and, respectively, improved the work of sector heads at tactical level and improved the GPS monitoring system through radio stations.
Italy's Ambassador to Moldova Lorenzo Tomassoni noted that since the launch of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Italy has transferred financial and material aid to the value of €45 million to Moldova.
The project also included the modernization of the Information System of the Operations Coordination Center, development and implementation of the e-learning systems, which includes laptops, software and training for system managers, and development of the GPS monitoring system of TETRA stations.
