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Minister Černochová discussed defence cooperation in Moldova, unveiled restored memorial

Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic

Author: David Polák
17.11.2023

Minister of Defence Jana Černochová visited Moldova. She met with her counterpart Minister Anatolie Nosatîi in the capital. They discussed deepening of defence industry cooperation and their shared position on the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The program of the visit also included honouring the memory World War I Czechoslovak legionnaires as the Minister unveiled a memorial in Chișinău renewed with a Czech financial donation.

"Moldova is a high priority country for the Czech Republic to cultivate cooperative ties with, including in the domain of security and defence. The recent opening of Defence Attaché Office in Chișinău testifies to that. The DAO's mission is to further deepen our cooperation, which is also why I am visiting Moldova," Minister Černochová said and she also highly valued bilateral cooperation in countering disinformation.

In the meeting, Czech Defence Minister deeply appreciated the effort by the Moldovan Government to support Ukraine's resistance to Russian aggression for already twenty one months. "In the face of huge pressure exercised by Russia in the quest to destabilise your country and thwart pro-western course of Moldova, your determination and power to counter that pressure is most inspiring," said Minister Černochová to her host and expressed her support to Moldova's considered decision to open up a debate on possible accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. "I highly value the recently authorised national security strategy of Moldova, which explicitly designates NATO as the partner of Moldova," Minister Černochová added.

The Czech delegation then unveiled the war grave of our legionnaires. "The memorial was built in 1926 and it buried Czechoslovak legionnaires who fell in the region in World War I. However, during the Soviet era, specifically in the 1950s, the grave was destroyed. It gives me a great pleasure that it was restored in cooperation with Moldova. The Defence Ministry donated 20 TEUR for its restoration. It is important to remember those who fought for the establishment of the state of Czechoslovakia," Minister Černochová underscored. The memorial bears a total of 27 names and it reflects the way it was built 97 years ago including the use of original materials.

The delegation also honoured the national holiday, through which the Czech Republic commemorates on November 17th the Nazi closure of universities in 1939 and the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Before that, the Minister met with the bishop of Chișinău Anton Coşa in the Cathedral of Divine Providence, where she lit a candle and prayed in attendance of Pastor Jakub Berka from the Prague Basilica of Saint Ludmila.

The Defence Minister's working visit followed on the official visit by the President of Moldova Maia Sandu in the Czech Republic in October and the visit of Chișinău by Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the summer, which saw productive discussions on developing cooperation on energy security, continuation of water management projects and a stronger participation of Czech businesses.