Yushchenko says effectiveness of military-industrial complex is national policy priority

The question of effectiveness of Ukraine's military-industrial complex should remain one of the most important priorities for national policies of the state, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said during the opening of a council with chief designers of the complex's enterprises in Dnipropetrovsk on Friday, June 13, the presidential press service reported.

The head of state said that there currently exist a number of unresolved problems on this issue. This concerns the proper implementation of a concept for restructuring the military-industrial sector and three state programs on the reform and development of the complex, armament and military equipment, the production and creation of special technologies and materials for producing new equipment and modernizing the existing equipment.

Yushchenko said that the parliament would consider amendments to the national budget for this year in two weeks. "I want to clearly state that I will adopt the most categorical position that the policy of 2008, starting with the provision of the Ukrainian army with newest or modified developments and ending with the financing of respective developments, will be financed as a separate priority," he said.

UKRINFORM