NSDC should find effective solutions to improve the situation in the
Armed Forces of Ukraine, President Viktor Yushchenko emphasized today
at the NSDC meeting opening discussion of the question on defensive
potentialities of the state and urgent measures on ensuring the ability
of the Armed Forces and other military formations to perform their
constitutional duty. "
"I am extremely concerned about the
situation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine", said Yushchenko, president's press office reported. "...
The army has become a hostage of empty populism”. He also said that
through the approach of some politicians, especially the lack of
adequate Government’s attention today the level of combat readiness of
the army is being lost.
The President reminded that due to
lack of state funding 25 military camps were disconnected from power,
not a single ship or aircraft was repaired for the military this year,
development of national operational-tactical missile system "has
reached a deadlock", etc.
"These and many other fact suggest
that the Army has become hostage to political intrigues and
speculations; that Ukrainian army does not get adequate attention of
state authorities - mainly of the Government", said Yushchenko.
He also reminded of a number of proposals on modernization of
Ukrainian military the Prime Minister and her political power made at
the elections of 2007, particularly to begin a full transition to
professional army in 2008 and completion of the process by the end of
2009. However, said Victor Yushchenko, in the second half of 2008 "the
reverse process has begun: last year the number of contractors has
decreased by almost 10 percent”.
The President also reminded
that despite the Government’s promise to cancel conscription for
military service from January 1, 2008, in the spring of 2009 the number
of conscripts increased by nearly 6 thousand people.
He drew
special attention to the fact that this year the share of defense
spending is only 1.1% of GDP (actually 0.8% considering the inflation)
compared to 1.28% in 2007. "This is a critical limit, when experts
speak about the process of irreversible destruction of combat readiness
of any national army", said President Yushchenko.
"I put up this issue at the NSDC agenda for only one reason: we must make proper assessment of this process. I will not allow us roll down in this problem further until we get incapable army. We should now agree on how we would give appropriate assistance to the Ukrainian army, raise the status of Ukrainian soldiers and officers, and support in the development and training of the army", he said.
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