Meles
told parliament that government had allocated about 1.2
percent of its US$ 6.8 billion 2011/2012 budget to security.
“This defense budget includes the buying of 200
main battle tanks, which some of you are asking for clarification,”
he said.
Actually the current tanks of Etiopian army are aged between
50 and 60 years old can longer travel more than 200 kilometers
for a military operation.
The
Prime Minister said the tanks, mostly second hand, will
be upgraded to fit the military’s expectations.
He stopped short of mentioning the origin of the tanks.
But there were reports that Ethiopia had agreed to buy
around 200 T-72 tanks worth over US$100 million from Ukraine.
A news agency claimed that the deal was made last month
between the Ethiopian government and unnamed Ukrainian
arms dealers.
Ethiopia
is battling an armed rebellion in the oil rich Orgaden
region near Somalia. It also accuses its neighbour Eritrea
of sponsoring insurgents who enter its territory.
