Military officials of the Federal Republic of Germany visiting the Ministry of Defense

CHISINAU, November 30, 2021 - A delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Defense, led by Rear Admiral Axel Ristau, Secretary II, Head of the Security and Defense Policy Department, paid a working visit to the Republic of Moldova.

At the Ministry of Defense, German officials had working meetings with the secretaries of state of the defense institution Valeriu Mija and Sergiu Plop, as well as with the commander of the National Army, Chief of the General Staff, Colonel Eduard Ohladciuc.

During the meetings, the main topics addressed focused on Moldovan-German cooperation in the military segment, defense reform and the development priorities of the National Army, as well as the prospects for intensifying the partnership between the two armies. At the same time, the current objectives of the government in the field of defense and security, the intensification of the participation of the Moldovan military in international peacekeeping missions and the strengthening of cooperation with external partners were discussed.

The Secretary of State for Defense Policy, National Defense Planning and Military Interoperability, Valeriu Mija, mentioned the significant support provided by the German side in bilateral cooperation between our states.

In this context, Valeriu Mija thanked the German officials for the implementation of projects and logistics initiatives carried out in the National Army, especially for the assistance provided in the implementation of the project "Strengthening the Armed Forces for transport, maintenance and safe storage of ammunition and dangerous goods" for the training of the National Army in the field of armaments and logistics, as well as for the recent donation of specialized equipment for the safe transport / handling of ammunition according to ADR.

In turn, Rear Admiral Axel Ristau stressed that the German government will continue to assist the Republic of Moldova in the process of transformation and modernization of the National Army according to international democratic standards.

During the bilateral consultations, the German delegation presented its experience on how to plan the defense sector according to the principles of democratic control over the Armed Forces.

Also today, the commander of the National Army, Colonel Eduard Ohladciuc and Rear Admiral Axel Ristau signed a technical agreement between the two defense institutions on providing logistical support to the Moldovan military in the EU Mission in Mali.It should be noted that the German delegation pays an official visit to the Republic of Moldova between November 29 and December 1, in accordance with the External Activity Plan of the Ministry of Defense and the National Army for 2021.

During their stay in Chisinau, German officials also had working meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova.