The Bill (Reg. No. 1316), qualified by the President of Ukraine as urgent and assigned for the priority consideration by The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, was scrutinized by the People´s Deputies at the preliminary meeting of the Committee.
The President of Ukraine submitted a new Bill. He proposes to reduce strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to 191 000 persons on 31 December 2008, including 148 000 military servants.
The strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was determined due to the regulations of the Military Doctrine of Ukraine, optimal coordination of tasks imposed on the Armed Forces of Ukraine and State possibilities of their upkeep.
Olexandr Kuzmuk, the Committee member, reporting on the new submission of the President of Ukraine, stated that he took into consideration all the remarks expressed by the Committee members concerning previous version of the Bill.
Thus, O.Kuzmuk stated that 9 thousand persons, including 1 thousand military servants, instead of 17 thousand (as it was proposed at first) will be dismissed in the current year.
However, the President of Ukraine failed to take into account the proposal concerning elaboration of the Bill on reduction of the Armed Forces till Year 2011 inclusive, and suggests adopting the Law only for Year 2008.
The Committee members drew attention to the fact that the Bill lacks the chapter concerning granting social safeguards to the military servants, transferred to the reserve.
The Committee will insist on restoring the regulation concerning granting social safeguards in the Law of Ukraine "On State Budget of Ukraine for Year 2008".
The Committee members are of the opinion that the Bill on the strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for Year 2008 can be adopted at the First Reading with consideration of all expressed remarks and proposals.