TBILISI. Oct 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgia's Defense Minister Giorgi Baramidze said he is displeased with next year's military budget, which is fixed by the government at 119 million lari ($65 million).
"Georgia must be ready for military action if it wants peace, while merely having soldiers fed and provided with boots is not enough for that," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"We need an efficient army, and this requires money," Baramidze said. However, he added that "other state needs should also be taken into account."
The government-proposed draft budget for 2005 is currently being discussed by parliamentary committees. The budget gives priority to financing the army and law enforcement agencies.