He recalled that the 2005 budget envisages an increase of expenditures on national defense by 107 billion rubles (29 rubles equal $1) in comparison with this year and an increase in financing antiterrorist activity by 50 billion rubles. "This is without taking into consideration the expenditures envisaged in federal target programs," Mr. Kudrin specified.
"These figures are in the draft budget, we don't need to revise the budget, recall it from the State Duma and re-submit it," stressed the minister.
We decided to envisage these funds long ago, Mr. Kudrin said.
"The 2005 budget meets the challenges facing the country both in the social sphere and in the sphere of conducting the administrative reform as regards raising the state power's responsibility for fulfillment of the state functions," believes the minister.
He noted that additional funds on financing national defense and antiterrorist activity will be allocated first of all to technical equipping of relevant services, training and attracting specialists. "The main task is to qualitatively and efficiently use these funds," stressed the minister.
The 2005 draft budget was submitted to the State Duma on August 26. The first reading of the document is scheduled for September 29.
Mr. Kudrin also said that monetary allowances to servicemen taking part in the antiterrorist activity will be increased by 2005 by 50% compared to this year through raises of the wages.
The minister did not specify to what sum the financing of each power department will be raised and what the expenditures on each of them will be next year.
"Today these expenditures are in the secret part of the budget," Mr. Kudrin explained.
