IVAN Šimko, the former defence minister, has warned that if the defence sector does not receive 2 percent of the national GDP in the 2004 state budget, Slovakia may become a second rank NATO member.

The draft 2004 budget foresees a 1.9 percent portion of the GDP given to the defence sector.

According to a Slovak daily, SME, during his recent meeting with the new Defence Minister, Juraj Liška, US ambassador to Slovakia Ronald Weiser was also curious about the country's planned defence budget for next year.

Compiled by Martina Pisárová from press reports

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