Budget policy priorities in 2003

The increase in expenditures on the law enforcement activities and national defence will be one of the priorities of the 2003 budget policy.

According to a top-level source in the Finance Ministry, much attention will be paid to technical equipment of the law enforcement bodies, especially in Chechnya.

On the whole, the draft of 2003 budget implies almost 50 per cent increase in expenditures on law enforcement activities.

The draft of the budget implies a 26 per cent increase in expenditures in the National Defence section. The necessity to finance scientific research in military sphere and purchase and repairs of military equipment was taken into account, when planning the increase in defence expenditures, the sources in the Finance Ministry said.