(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, July 18, 2002) – “Lack of finances for the defense and security structures will inevitably lead to the destabilization,” Irakli Batiashvili, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security stated at the Committee’s meeting today.
The Committee discussed the financing of the Defense Ministry in the first half of the 2002 and the parameters of budget of the defense and security bodies for the 2003.
The Committee criticized the government, especially the Finance Ministry’s activity as the defense and security bodies of the country are insufficiently financed.
MPs stated at the Committee’s meeting that defense and security should be top priority in the next year’s budget.
Budgetary shortfall of the Defense Ministry consists 4 million Lari (USD 1,8 million) in the first half of 2002, while the entire funding of the Ministry in 2002 is only USD 17 million.