DEFENCE EXPENDITURES OF ARMENIA INCREASE BY 30.6% IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2007 ON SAME PERIOD OF 2006

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Out of the budgetary expenditures of
437 bln 806.4 mln drams (over 1 bln 256.6 mln USD) in January-October
2007, expenditures in the defence sphere amounted to 79 bln 769 mln
drams, increasing by 30.6% as compared with the same period of last
year. The ratio of defence expenditures to GDP grew from 3% in the
first ten months of 2006 to 3.3% in the same period of this year.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, budgetary
expenditures on public order protection, national security and justice
system made 36 bln 63.8 mln drams, exceeding by 19.5% the index of
the same period of last year. Their ratio to GDP did not change as
compared with the first ten months of 2006 and made 1.5%.

Expenditures on education and science made 69 bln 714.3 mln drams
(22.7% growth on January-October 2006), while their ratio to GDP
grew from 2.8% to 2.9%. Expenditures on social insurance and social
security made 51 bln 74.9 mln drams (19.2% growth), their ratio to
GDP remained unchanged – 2.1%.

Expenditures on health care amounted to 33 bln 726.6 mln drams (24.3%
growth), their ratio to GDP grew from 1.3% in January-October 2006
to 1.4% in the same period of this year.

32 bln 655.6 mln drams was spent in the transport, roads and
communication sector in January-October 2007, these expenditures
increased by 30.5% as compared with the same months of last year. Their
ratio to GDP grew from 1.2% in January-October 2006 to 1.4% in the
same period of 2007.