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NATO assists Moldova to deal with dangerous chemicals

Legal agreements supporting the NATO/OSCE Trust Fund project for the destruction of dangerous pesticides in Moldova were signed at the NATO HQ today. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer presided over the ceremony which paves way to the practical execution of the project. Moldovan Defence Minister Valeriu Plesca represented the Host Nation.

Belgium and Romania will act as Lead Nations for the first phase of this project which will see the repacking and centralization of the dangerous stockpile of 1,600 tonnes of obsolete chemicals scattered around Moldova in 358 different sites. The total cost of the project is estimated to be EUR 841,000.

As these sites are currently guarded by the military, the project will release hundreds of servicemen for other duties. It will also have a significant positive impact on the environment and the daily life of the population. This is a first joint NATO-OSCE Trust Fund project. The work will be carried out by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency NAMSA and the OSCE in the framework of the Environment and Security Initiative ENVSEC (UNDP, UNEP, OSCE and NATO).

NAMSA will act as the Executing Agent for the project. A Dutch NGO, Milieukontakt, will assist with the repacking and centralization task in one of the districts in Moldova. This is the first time an NGO will have an operational role in a NATO/Partnership for Peace (PfP) Trust Fund project.

All NATO/PfP Trust Fund projects are based on voluntary contributions from NATO Member and Partner Nations. In addition to the Lead Nations and the UK who financed the feasibility study, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Turkey have pledged funding for this project.

The NATO/PfP Trust Fund mechanism was established in 2001 to assist NATO Partner Nations in the safe destruction of stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines, small arms, munitions or to help manage the consequences of defence reform. To date, NATO Member and Partner Nations have pledged more than 20 million euros to ongoing and completed Trust Fund projects.

Moldova has been a NATO Partner since 1994.

Source: NATO

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