Moldovan president dismisses defence minister

CHISINAU, June 11 (Reuters) Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, a Communist who now wants to move his ex-Soviet state into Europe's mainstream, today dismissed his defence minister, an advocate of closer ties with NATO.

A presidential decree gave no reason for the dismissal of Valeriu Plesca, who had held the post for 2 1/2 years. Ion Corobceanu, Moldova's military chief of staff, was named acting minister in his place.

Plesca had previously been involved in business and served as a member of parliament in Moldova, Europe's poorest country wedged between ex-Soviet Ukraine and Romania.

While in office, he had promoted closer links with NATO and drawn up a plan of cooperation with the alliance providing for gradual upgrading of Moldova's military to meet NATO standards.

Voronin, the only elected communist leader of a former Soviet republic, was closely allied to Moscow when he first came to power in 2001.

He quarrelled with the Kremlin, alleging it was abetting separatists running Moldova's breakaway Transdniestria region, and became an advocate of closer integration with the West. But in recent months, Voronin has been more conciliatory to Moscow.

REUTERS DS BST2246