DEFENCE BUDGET TO BE DECREASED

The Messenger
Jan 8 2009
Georgia

The 2009 state budget envisages GEL 952 million for defence, a
reduction of about 600 million on 2008. In 2007 the defence budget
was GEL 1.5 billion approximately.

Since 2004 the country has spent more than GEL 4 billion on its
defence alone. Some military experts express their regret that this
huge amount could have been spent more efficiently if the amounts
had been targeted more precisely, covering the exact needs for the
country’s defence system. "If the personnel selection policy had been
based on attracting professionals the outcome of the August war and
the situation today would have been better," says military expert
Irakli Aladashvili. This should be regretted because it is unlikely
that Georgia will be able to afford that much money for its defense
needs in the near future.

Georgia’s neighbours are increasing their military budgets. In
2008 for instance the Azerbaijan defence budget was USD 1.859
billion. In 2009 Azerbaijan intends to increase this figure to USD 2.5
billion. Armenia’s defence budget in 2009 will be USD 493 million. A
separate issue for Armenia is the defence budget for Karabakh, which
is USD 50 million. It should be added that the hardware and ammunition
Armenia receives from Russia is either very cheap or free of charge.