Parliamentary Committee Discussed Defense Funding

(Tbilisi. April 14, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security discussed today the funding of the defense and security bodies of the country in the first quarter of 2003.

According to the Chairman of the Committee MP Irakli Batiashvili the funding of the State Security, Defense and Interior Ministries ?is alarming.?

The Defense Ministry was financed with 75%; State Security Ministry ? 62%; Interior Ministry ? 91%.

Chief of the Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Joni Pirtskhalaishvili said at the Parliamentary Committee meeting that the despite of Defense Ministry?s budgetary shortfall there was no delay in financing of the salaries for the commando battalion trained in frames of the US-funded Train-and-Equip Program.