Draft-budget of 2017 for the defense sector is the main topic of a letter addressed on Saturday by the President of the Republic, Bujar Nishani to the lawmakers. Head of State raises the concern over the defense budget, while underlining the lack of consultations by the Ministry of Defense.

“In the absence of prior consultation by the Ministry of Defense, Office of the President of the Republic has used and evaluated the administrated formation on the official website of the Assembly and the Ministry of Finance, thus, I consider it imperative to share with you some critical reservations about this draft.

Draft-budget of defense for 2017 violates the laws on the Long Term Development Plan (2016 - 2025) of the Armed Forces (AF), and national strategic objectives, defined in the National Security Strategy (NSS). These documents have both been approved by the Assembly” writes the Head of State.

President Nishani notes with concern that the defense budget for 2017 is much lower (approximately 2.8 times) the level of 2% of GDP. According to him the budget does not reflect the serious concerns raised constantly by Albania’s strategic allies and trading partners of the Alliance's most powerful political and military where the country belongs.

He urges the MPs to address these concerns in a consensual manner reflecting this fact through an increase of defense budget for 2017 up to 1% of GDP.