Georgian Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said on November 29 that defense funding will increase by at least an additional 80 million lari (approximately USD 44.4 million) in 2005 over the original proposed figure and that that figure could go as high as 100 million lari (USD 55.6 million).
According to the initial draft budget, defense spending was to increase by 34% compared to 2004, up to 119 million lari (approximately USD 65 million). However, after consultations, the government agreed to almost double the figure from 2004.
“The President and the Cabinet have decided to support the defense sphere, which is considered as the top priority for the next year,” Baramidze told reporters on November 29.