Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 29 2004

Armenia increases military expenses by 35%

After the discussions on the 2005 state budget the Armenian
parliament passed a decision last week to increase military expenses.

Although the military expenses earlier made up 13% of the state
budget ($98m), the figure was increased up to 18% by the parliament
to total the military expenses 35% of the next year’s state budget.
Thus, the funds scheduled to be allocated for education will be spent
on defense.
In 2004, Armenia’s military expenses constituted $82 million.
The military expenditures of Georgia will total $65 million in 2005.
In Azerbaijan, the government has decided to raise military expenses
up to $250 million next year. The figure stood at $180 million in
2004.
Commenting on Armenia’s unexpected move to increase military
expenses, political analyst Rovshan Novruzoghlu explained the fact
with the new aggressive position of Armenia in the South Caucasus
region and the country’s unsuccessful foreign policy pursued in the
international arena over the recent years.
Novruzoghlu said that the Armenian lobbyists in the United States
have appealed to the Congress with regard to allocation of $75
million to Armenia and $15 million to Upper Garabagh in military
assistance. Armenia intends to use financial assistance provided by
Diaspora and other foreign sources for military purposes, the
political analyst underlined.*