The privatization of the land under the former War Hero Cemetery in Chisinau was legal, said the Ministry of Economy in a letter in response to a petition from Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca. The letter signed by Minister Valeriu Lazar in particular said that the privatization procedure of the plot was legal, the ownership was confirmed by the legislation, and the territory of 2 hectares was sold for the sum of 70 million lei. “This means that there is no leverage for modifying the contract. Therefore, the City Hall will commence negotiations with the owner so that we can rehabilitate the cemetery for heroes that died during World War II. If they refuse to negotiate, it will be done through expropriation. If we aren't successful in obtaining the entire plot, we hope for at least 10 ares for the cemetery”, Chirtoaca told Info-Prim Neo. The 2 ha plot located on Decebal Street was a cemetery for war heroes from Chisinau, where servicemen of different nationalities were buried after falling in combat during the two world wars. The plot was sold in 2009 by the National Privatization Agency of the Ministry of Economy.