Lragir, Armenia
Nov 10 2006

MINISTER OF DEFENSE IS AGAINST SUSTAINING ARMY AT THE EXPENSE OF
OLIGARCHS

I am against boosting the army’s budget by extorting money from
oligarchs, stated the minister of defense Serge Sargsyan in a
briefing on November 10. During the meeting with the professors of
Yerevan State University, where the draft strategy of National
Security was discussed, there was a proposal to impose more taxes on
the oligarchs and boost the budget of the army, and the news
reporters inquired about Serge Sargsyan’s attitude towards this
proposal.

`There was no such opinion, they proposed extorting money from
oligarchs and transfering it to the army’s budget, and I am
categorically against it. And if legal taxes are concerned, why the
oligarchs only? The legal taxes should be collected, the black
economy should be battled. There is no reason for doubt,’ says Serge
Sargsyan.