7 Nov. 2006

NATO-supported pesticide destruction project opens in Moldova News 11/05/06 - NATO NATO assists Moldova to deal with dangerous chemicals Background Partnership for Peace Trust Fund The opening ceremony of the NATO-OSCE Trust Fund project for the destruction of dangerous pesticides in Moldova was held on 7 November in Chisinau. The event was attended by Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin and other high-level officials from Moldova, NATO, the OSCE and the contributing countries. Dangerous chemicals Belgium and Romania are the lead nations in the first phase of this project which will see the repacking and centralization of a dangerous stockpile of 1 200 tonnes of obsolete chemicals in Moldova. Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Turkey have also contributed funds to the project. This is the first joint NATO-OSCE Trust Fund project. The work will be carried out by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency and the OSCE in the framework of the Environment and Security Initiative, which brings together the UNDP, UNEP, OSCE and NATO. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by February 2007. The analysis of the pesticides and dangerous chemicals is being carried out by Moldova with the assistance of NATO's Science for Peace programme. The laboratory provided by NATO will be funded for a further two years and includes additional equipment and training.