The National Security and Defense Council is being restructured. The process is kept low key, making analysts follow changes in this power structure (actually the President’s nerve center) even more closely. All of the Chief Executive’s decisions concerning national security, this almost all-embracing domain, are rooted in NDSC proposals.
“Is this restructuring in any way related to some political prospects?” Volodymyr Horbulin was asked by The Day’s Serhiy Zgurets.
“There is no political motivation involved whatsoever,” was the reply. “It’s just that our four-year experience says we need to reorganize internally and revise our priorities. NSDC’s economic security division, the weakest link in the chain, has been thoroughly rebuilt. Again, our experience shows that the economic sphere is not strategic but a matter of daily life. We reallocated the responsibilities, considering that I have three deputies. I also think – and the President agrees – that there should be a fourth deputy in charge of the military-technological domain.”
“You mean that NSDC will share some of the Defense Ministry’s responsibilities?”
“No, NSDC will do none of the DM’s jobs. Our task is to integrate everything being done in the military sphere, process this data using NSDC facilities, and submit final decisions for the President’s approval. There is very painstaking collective work in progress which is proving quite effective. As for DM and the General Staff, their proposals are not always well coordinated.”
“Wouldn’t it make things easier if the Chief of General Staff were an NSDC member?”
“Frankly, it would make sense if we had a civilian Defense Minister and a military CGS. As it is, I don’t consider this expedient. Today, having the Defense Minister on NSDC is just fine. However, we also invited the Minister of Justice and I consider his membership necessary. Also, taking a closer look at our day to day life, the Minister of Health’s membership seems advisable. As for the coercive structures, their representation is quite adequate.”






