Georgia to Cut Defense Spending, PM Says

There will be ?a significant cut? in defense spending, Lado Gurgenidze, the Georgian prime minister, told Reuters on December 5. He did not, however, give figures.

An initial draft state budget for 2008 set defense spending at GEL 922.1 million (about USD 570 million). Parliament was originally due to discuss it on November 22, but the process was postponed upon the request of PM Gurgenidze.

He told lawmakers after he was approved as the new PM on November 22 that the budget needed ?some corrections? to make it ?more socially oriented.?

Original 2007 defense spending was set at GEL 392.5 million; the figure, however, eventually exceeded GEL 1.495 billion (over USD 920 million) as a result of two budget revisions in June and September.

PM Gurgenidze started a visit to Brussels on December 5 where he is expected to hold talks with NATO and EU officials.

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