Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan moderately optimistic about the Karabakh
conflict settlement

01.09.2006 16:42
Anna Nazaryan
"Radiolur"

On the occasion of the Knowledge Day RA Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan visited the Military Institute after Monte Melkonayn. The
minister learned about the situation in the Institute and promised to
undertake measures to make the Institute one of the exemplary
educational establishments in Yerevan.

The Minister also spoke about domestic policy issues. President of the
Republican Party Council declared he does not consider the `Prosperous
Armenia’ Party an opponent. The `Prosperous Armenia’ is a force that
has declared about its political objectives. What this force will be
like, we’ll know after the elections,’ the Minister said.

What does Serge Sargsyan think about the rumors that there are many
criminals among the Republicans? `Let them go and check their party
lists,’ the Minister suggested.

As for the Karabakh issue, the Defense Minister is moderately
optimistic: ` The year is not over yet, and we cannot say we have no
expectations.’

In Serge Sargsyan’s words, 2007 military budget of Armenia will
increase parallel to the GDP growth, and the military expences will
not increase at the cost of the reduction of financing to other
spheres. As for Azerbaijan, the Minister considers it will not reduce
its military budget, notwithstanding the urging of the European Union.