ARMENIA’S DEFENCE EXPENDITURES GROW BY 13.2% IN JANUARY 2008 ON SAME MONTH OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
March 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Out of the RA state budgetary
expnditures of 32 bln 233 mln drams (over 104.9 mln USD) in January
2008, defence expenditures amounted to 4 bln 908.2 mln drams – against
4 bln 335.2 mln drams in the same month of 2007 (13,2% growth). The
ratio of defence expenditures to Armenian GDP declined from 5.1%
in January 2007 to 4.8% in January 2008.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, budgetary
expenditures on public order protection, national security and court
activities made 2 bln 21.8 mln drams in January 2008 – against 1 bln
482.2 mln drams in January 2007. Their ratio to GDP grew from 1.8%
in January 2007 to 2% in January 2008.

Expenditures on education made 57.1 mln drams – against 1 bln 25.3
mln drams spent on education and science in January 2007, while their
ratio to GDP declined from 1.2% to 0.1%. 17 bln 26.9 mln drams was
spent in the social security sector – against 4 bln 137.1 mln drams
in January 2007, their ratio to GDP grew from 4.9% in January 2007
to 16.8% in the same month of 2008.

Expenditures on health care made 3.4 mln drams – against 208 mln
drams in January 2007, while their ratio to GDP fell from 0.2% in
January 2007 to almost 0%.

6 bln 987.5 mln drams was spent on public services of general character
in January 2008 – against 1 bln 808.5 mln drams on transport, roads
and communication in the same month of 2007. The ratio of these
expenditures to GDP grew from 2.1% in January 2007 to 6.9%.