Defense Minister Refuses to Unveil Spending Detail

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said that the purchasing of arms and hardware is underway for the Georgian army, however he refused to specify either amount of money spent, or the type of armament being purchased.

?I often hear complaints from the opponents that the Defense Ministry?s spending is not transparent. I understand this argument, but on the other hand I do not think appropriate to speak about it. I assure everyone that this money is not spent for personal purposes of officials and soon everybody will see it,? Irakli Okruashvili told Mze television on April 4.

He also said that planned increase of the Defense Ministry budget will ?significantly boost the Georgian army?s capabilities.?

The government has already submitted to the Parliament draft amendments to the budget, according to which defense spending will amount to a total of 301 million Lari (approximately USD 163.5 million) in 2005.

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