CHISINAU, Moldova -- Moldovan president Mircea Snegur took part in his country's privatization campaign Thursday and called on Moldovans to join the sell-off of state property launched in July.


"We should become real masters of our property," Snegur said at the main privatization center in the capital Chisinau after he invested in local firms. "This is the road to prosperity."


But Snegur refused to say which companies he had invested in. "I do not want to advertise them," he said.


The 84 large and medium-sized companies now on sale across the former Soviet republic include the Bucuria confectionery firm and construction and food processing plants.


The Privatization Ministry plans to auction more than 1,500 firms or one third of all state property by July next year, including 700 firms by the end of this year.


"We have privatized about 100 large and about 80 small companies since July, but the pace is accelerating all the time," said Deputy Privatization Minister Zosim Bodiu.


Small enterprises are being sold at auction but large and medium ones are being sold by subscription at nationwide auctions.