National budget adopted by Saeima allows for successful implementation of NATO Membership Action Plan 2002

 

 

On 29 November 2001 the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) adopted the national budget for 2002, which allows for successful implementation of NATO Membership Action Plan 2002.

 

NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) includes not only Latvia's preparation for meeting NATO defence and military criteria, but also governmental policy in other spheres, e.g., society integration, observance of human rights and reassessment of history. Economic development, formation of favourable investment climate and corruption prevention are important aspects as well.

 

Touching upon concrete chapters of the MAP, it should be noted that the defence budget for 2002 will amount to 1.75% of the GDP, as compared to 2001 when it was 1.35% of the GDP. The funding has been increased in compliance with the State Defence Financing Law adopted on 5 April 2001, which stipulates that in 2003 the defence budget will amount to 2% of the GDP.

 

As to the chapter on politics and economy, in the field of society integration there is a considerable increase ��� by 40% ��� for the work of the Society Integration Foundation. The budget for bonus payments to bilingual teachers will grow by 10%. A stable amount of financial resources is also set for the Naturalisation Board and the National Programme for Latvian Language Training.

 

The budget allocation for the National Human Rights Office will grow by 10%. Latvia's History Commission will continue receiving financial support from the state.

 

In the area of economic development the MAP envisages giving particular attention to corruption combating. To this end, a new institution ��� Corruption Prevention and Combating Office ��� has been established with the funding amounting to LVL 400,000 in 2002.

 

The national budget adopted by the Saeima once again confirms Latvia's determination to achieve compliance with the political and military criteria of NATO and to be prepared to receive an invitation to join the Alliance at the NATO Summit in Prague in November 2002.

 

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