CHISINAU. April 13 (Interfax) - It will cost 250 million euros to upgrade the Moldovan Armed Forces, Moldovan Defense Ministry State Secretary Valeriu Mija said.
"The shock of last February, when everyone realized the importance of developing the defense system, was the starting point in the public opinion's shift to development of the defense sector. In other words, the period of romanticism with a dream of 'eternal peace' is over, and another approach is required," Mija told reporters after national security hearings at the Moldovan parliament.
"The defense strategy will be based on the achievement of several objectives: flexible command, distribution of forces and infrastructural development. This process did not start yesterday, we operate on the basis of the presidential order signed in 2020. Yet we have a dilemma: how many resources would be necessary? In our opinion, an upgrade of the Armed Forces requires 250 million euros. Still, we are grateful for the practical doubling of the Defense Ministry's budget to 80 million euros," Mija said.
Moldova is also due to receive 87 million euros via the European Peace Facility this year, he said.
"There are other figures, which cannot be publicly disclosed, in particular, because it is a commercial secret. For instance, the procurement of air defense systems was not a priority a short time ago, however, last year's incidents have made us change our mind, and that would require funding," Mija said.