Alexander Kuranov. Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic Andrew Babish made an initiative Wednesday to increase the budget of the army until at least 52 billion euros (about 2, 2 billion USD) in 2017, which is 8 billion euros (about 340 million) higher than in 2015, said Prague.

"It is important to the budget of the army greatly increased.(Army) not enough 5 thousand soldiers. A significant part of a technique I've seen is rather related to the military-historical Museum. I saw the equipment and weapons, which are more than 50 years, " said Babish correspondents during visits to the mechanized and armored brigade stationed in the village Praslavice in the North-East of the Republic.

Czech Republic in the last few years, allocated for army needs approximately 0, 9-1, 0% of GDP. In the spring of 2014, after the start of events in Ukraine, the government of the Republic adopted an opinion will gradually increase the military budget to 1, 4% of GDP in 2020. Babish now stands for the acceleration of this process.

now the ranks of the Czech army numbered around fifteen. 5 thousand soldiers and about five thousand civilian employees.

"I'll try to find out How the Ministry of defence manages the finances. I wish, for example, to Supplement expenditures for soldiers and bureaucrats. We need to spend money on the military. I don't like that there is no money for ammunition. For the year soldiers stands just 3 pairs of socks, said on Thursday Babish.

Babish told the media their calculations, from which it appears that in General the army is not enough for current expenditure and fresh investment of 120 billion euros (about 5, 1 billion dollars).

"it is necessary to increase the budget (army), in 2017 and 2018. The army must get priority, " said Babish.

"If it really comes to increase (the budget of the army), we only will be glad, said from his part, the chief of the General staff Josef Bechvarzh, who organized a visit by the Deputy Prime Minister to soldiers in Praslavice.

according to his statement, only this military unit needs significant investment upgrading technology. As stated by Bechvarzh, in 2018, the Army would like to move on to fresh armored infantry, ancient used since 1984. He added that the same " situation with mortars, and other weapons We have need to be exchanged for new."

sections: Politics