MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian army needs USD20bn for operational expenses in 2004, Andrey Nikolayev, Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, told Interfax- Military News Agency Monday.
"To fill operational - not breakthrough - expenses, the Armed Forces will need about RUB600bn (USD19.8bn - Interfax-AVN) in 2004," he said.
He emphasized that the sum does not account for the accommodation problem.
According to him, the draft budget 2004 allocates about RUB412bn (USD13.6bn) for the operational expenses of the Armed Forces, less than stipulated by the relevant decision of the Federation Council to allocate 3.01 percent GDP.
"Take the money provided by the Security Council - RUB460bn (USD15.2bn - Interfax-AVN), add another RUB140bn (USD4.6bn - Interfax-AVN), and then the army will be able to appropriately fulfil its tasks," he said.
Nikolayev said that the hardest problem was underfunding of the state armament program and combat training, but he also said that other problems, such as logistic support, should not be underestimated.