Chicu: Avia Invest Gives Occasion to Airport Concession Agreement Termination

Prime Minister Ion Chicu claims that Avia Invest, which has the Chisinau International Airport concession, provides grounds for terminating the concession agreement. The head of Ministers Cabinet claims that the data on concession company investments are currently being analyzed, and the process of contract termination can be started within a month, ipn.md reports. “The concession contract was concluded in 2013, within unfavorable state conditions, in a way for the state to obtain minimal chances to terminate it. It is good that the concessionaire gives us a reason to terminate this contract. The public property agency evaluates the way Avia Invest concessionaire fulfills its obligations under the contract, and preliminary data show that it has not made the investments foreseen for the first and second stages. This is the basis for contract termination. The government will not reconcile with this situation; we believe the state has suffered. Thus, our actions will be aimed at terminating this agreement,” Ion Chicu said during the broadcast of Punctul pe azi (Today’s point) on TVR Moldova. At the same time, Ion Chicu listed the risks that exist in relations between the Republic of Moldova and the International Monetary Fund, whose mission will be in Chisinau these days. Ion Chicu noted that the first of them is the IMF demand to increase domestic gas tariffs. “There is zero chance that we accept a tariff increase, because there is no economic basis for this. Since January 1, we have been buying gas from Gazprom at a significantly lower price, so there is absolutely no reason to raise tariffs. The second risk is whether the IMF will accept our desire to invest in road infrastructure. We are still negotiating. We are pleased to confirm the flexibility within this matter,” the head of cabinet said. The prime minister remains optimistic, believing that the Republic of Moldova will continue relations with the IMF. “If the mission makes another demand or conditions that we cannot accept, this would mean a break in relations with the IMF. We have stated and are still convinced that we can accept only those conditions that do not harm the economy and citizens of the Republic of Moldova. We do not conclude agreements with foreign partners at any cost,” Ion Chicu explained. Nevertheless, the prime minister claims that there is no risk that the Republic of Moldova would be isolated at the international level, because it “no longer depends on the will of some politicians”.