Government dwells upon increasing national security costs

Defense costs on these purposes have already been raised for the year 2005

Russian Vice Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov does not exclude the increase of budget costs on the national security, RIA Novosti reports. 

”We are ready to specify and revise the funds, assigned in the budget for defense and national security,” Zhukov told reporters on Tuesday, as an answer to the question about the government's intention to increase the defense spending in connection with recent terrorist acts.

According to the vice premier, the decision is possible to be made, when State Duma deputies discuss the budget 2005. Yet, the official added, it is too early to say, how the national security spending is going to be increased. Zhukov said that defense costs on these purposes have already been raised for the year 2005.

Vice premier believes the costs are not likely to be increase at the expense of the stabilization fund. The spending of the stabilization fund is determined with the budget message from the president. The message stipulates over 500 billion rubles should be spent to cover the budgetary deficit of the pension fund and replace foreign loans. A different expenditure structure would require a special law, Zhukov said.