Defense Expenditure To Rise In Line With GDP Growth In Armenia

DEFENSE EXPENDITURE TO RISE IN LINE WITH GDP GROWTH IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
15:30 06/11/06

Expenditures on defense will make up 3.5% of GDP annually, Serzh
Sargsyan, defense minister of Armenia told reporters today saying this
is an agreement reached with the Armenian government. In his words,
defense expenditures will grow in line with economy.

According to the draft state budget, defense expenditures will surpass
100.4 bln drams with 96.6 bln to military needs, 3.8 bln to other
costs, 26.9 mln on organization of alternative military service.

Sargsyan said 48% of expenditures will be used on salaries. He said
the average salary for officers will be 165,000 drams.

Speaking about increase in military expenditures of Azerbaijan,
Sargsyan said, "Of coarse, you cannot compare $1 bln with $300 million
but much can be accomplished even with that money if used purposefully
and efficiently."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS