Defence Spending will bee Raised by 12,5 Billon Rubles

The Russian government is prepared to raise defence spending for 2001 by 12,5 billion rubles, the Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin announced on Monday, RIA-Novosti reports. The announcement was made after the traditional meeting with the Prime Minister that was devoted to the draft budget for 2001 and the consideration in the State Duma after the second reading. Kudrin also added that the raise in the defence spending is connected both with the upcoming military reforms and with the need to raise the current financing of the military. He also said that the government is ready to raise educational spending by 3 billion rubles and spending for science – by 1,5 billion rubles. Kudrin stressed that the government is ready for a compromise with those factions in the State Duma that supported the budget after the first reading.