MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The additional funding to be provided to the Defense Ministry before the end of 2006 will be targeted at the improvement of combat readiness and social support of the military, Major General Nikolai Bezborodov, a member of the State Duma defense committee, told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
"Before this year-end the Defense Ministry budget will enjoy an additional revenue of 22 billion rubles ($815 million), of which 5.3 billion ($196 million) will be spent in fulfillment of the federal program of shifting to a professional army. Approximately the same amount will be allocated for acquisition and storing of fuel, oil and lubricants," Bezborodov said.
He noted that over 3 billion rubles ($111 million) more will be spent for research and development, and acquisition of weapons and materiel.
Additional 6.7 billion ($225 million) will go to pay salaries and wages to servicemen and civilian personnel, while 8.2 billion ($303 million) for housing construction, and 1 billion to sponsor the mortgage system. Bezborodov said that these figures are close to those which were though necessary by the legislators during the last autumn discussion of the 2006 budget.
Additional funding is going to be provided to the Defense Ministry in compliance with the bill on amendments to the law on 2006 federal budget now being under discussion at the State Duma.