CHISINAU. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The Moldovan Defense Ministry's funding requirements are met by only about 30 percent in 2005, a source in the ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
"The military budget of the Moldovan army will amount to 115 million leus (about $9.3 million, which is about 0.4 percent of the GDP - Interfax-AVN) in 2005. According to Defense Minister Valeriu Plesca, this sum covers only about 30 percent of this ministry's real demands for this year," the source said.
Plesca told the Chisinau News daily in this connection that he would like to receive more funds, but the military are aware of the country's real economic situation and of the fact that it provides as much as it can.
The current military budget "has a direction," Plesca said, adding that 61 percent of all expenses will be devoted to paying allowances to servicemen and civilian personnel, as well as to procuring foodstuffs and outfits for active-duty servicemen, covering utility payments, etc.