ARMENIA’S DEFENCE EXPENDITURES INCREASE BY 25.1% IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER
2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Out of budgetary expenditures of 379
bln 862.7 mln drams (about 1 bln 84 mln USD) in January-September 2007,
expenditures in the defence sector amounted to 67 bln 493.3 mln drams,
which exceeds by 25.1% the index of the same period of last year. The
ratio of defence expenditures to Armenia’s GDP made 3.3% in the first
nine months of 2007 against 3.1% in the same petiod of last year.

According to the RA National Statsitical Service, budgetary
expenditures on public order protection, national security and judicial
system made 31 bln 24.1 mln drams in January-September 2007, exceeding
by 15.9% the index of the same period of last year. Their ratio to GDP
made 1.5% against 1,6% in the same months of last year.

Expenditures in education and science spheres amounted to 62 bln 38 mln
drams (19.7% growth on January-September of last year), their ratio to
GDP increased from 3% to 3.1%. 45 bln 419.9 mln drams was spent on
social security and social insurance (20.2% growth), their ratio to GDP
increased from 2.2% to 2.3%. Expenditures in health care sector made 29
bln 326.3 mln drams (23.8% growth), their ratio to GDP grew from 1.4%
in January-September 2006 to 1.5% in the same months of 2007.

28 bln 690.8 mln drams was spent in transport, road and communication
sectors in January-September 2007 (25.8% growth), while the ratio of
these expenditures to GDP declined from 1.5% in January-September 2006
to 1.4% in the same petiod of this year.