Defense Suffers with Budgetary Shortfall

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, July 11, 2002) – Budgetary shortfall of the Georgian Ministry of Defense (MoD) consists 4 million Lari (USD 1,8 million) in the first half of 2002, Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze told the reporters after the meeting of the military council on July 11.

Tevzadze said that the Finance Minister made an optimistic statement concerning the problem at the July 10 government’s meeting. Tevzadze hopes that the shortfall will be covered in the next six months.

Budget of the Georgian MoD in 2002 consists USD 17,2 million, while the Defense Minister demanded at least USD 32 million.