Health and life risks for local people living near ammunition depots in Moldova reduced with OSCE support

FLORESTI, Moldova, 12 September 2013 – Today, new OSCE-funded intruder detection and fire alarm systems were officially launched at the Moldovan National Army ammunition storage depot in Floresti in northern Moldova.

“The new systems will enhance safety and reduce risks to health and life of the local people living in the neighbourhood of the storage depot ,” said the Acting Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission Stephen Young.

OSCE supported the installation within its Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and conventional ammunition life-cycle and storage programme.

Moldovan Deputy Minister of Defence, Igor Panfile, who took part in the ceremony, said that the programme makes a significant contribution to the ability of the Moldovan National Army to meet the OSCE standards for the storage of SALW and conventional ammunition, and helps ensure and maintain local safety and regional stability.

The programme has also included the repair and renovation of the ammunition storage depots in Chisinau, Balti, Cahul and Floresti, as well as munitions disposal. From 2010-2012 the OSCE programme safely disposed of 70 cluster munitions and 110 air bombs held by the Moldovan armed forces, and dismantled 48 Surface to Air Missiles (5 V28) stored in the Danceni depot near Chisinau. Small quantities of hazardous fuel which remained in eight of the missiles were also safely neutralised and disposed of under the programme.