For Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, the military actions mean widening the front of financial operations.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
|
 |
State Duma Counted Price of S. Ossetian War
State Duma’s Defense Committee has submitted bills with amendments to budget of 2009 to 2011 for the second reading at State Duma. The amendments provide for the surge in the military costs of at least 68 billion ruble. For Russia’s budget, these amendments are rather the price of the war in South Ossetia. Nevertheless, the chance is that it isn't the whole amount to be appropriated to the military.
State Duma’s Defense Committee had been elaborating amendments to three-year budget in the past two days; the task was to submit bills for the second reading of the budget slated for October 17.
Although hardly anyone doubted that the South Ossetian operation of Russia’s military would step up military costs of the budget, the definite amount had been unclear until Monday. “I suggest appropriating 80 billion ruble in addition to buy new military weapons and equipment to station them in the regions, wherever we find it expedient. The loss replenishment should be effected under a new base and new capabilities of our defense ministry. The events in the Caucasus have again manifested vitality of the work for strengthening the defensive capacity,” the PM said.
The State Duma’s committee got down to business at once, proposing the 68-billion ruble increase in military costs for 2009. And it is only the minimal estimate. As to the maximum, the worth of proposal of parliament members matches the amount voiced by Vladimir Putin. On the other hand, it is yet unclear what Putin has meant by pledging to allocate the above 80 billion ruble, i.e. the chance is that the PM’s promise will be added to the worth of proposal of State Duma’s Defense Committee.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 03, 2008
|
|
|
