DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MILITARY BUDGET OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN WILL NEVER MAKE ARMENIA TO YIELD

ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11. ARMINFO. The difference between the military
budget of Armenia and Azerbaijan will never make Armenia to yield,
Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan told journalists.

He said the quantitative factor transforms into a qualitative factor
any way, however, it is unknown when it will happen. ‘Undoubtedly,
one can worry about the large military budget of an enemy, rival or
a neighbor. But, the budget must be used effectively,’ the minister
said. He brought cases when Armenia and Azderbijan bought the
same ammunition for different prices. “Indeed, we are aspiring for
comparable financial resources,” Serge Sargsyan said. As the military
budget depends on the percentage of the GDP no sharp increase in
the budget is expected so far, the minister explained. The minister
disagreed with the opinion that the threat of war is higher today
than before. He connects the bellicose statements of Azerbaijan with
the pre- election hysteria. The minister said that the situation on
the frontline is much calmer than 7 months ago. The situation cannot
be called pre-war as it does not correspond to reality, the minister
said. It can be thought so only from the point of view of Azerbaijan.