ARMENIA TO INCREASE DEFENSE EXPENDITURES – MINISTER

Interfax News Agency
May 13 2008
Russia

Armenia’s military budget will be increased, Armenian Defense Minister
Seiran Oganian said.

"We are concerned about Azerbaijan’s growing military expenditures.

We must do everything possible to maintain the balance as to
qualitative indices. We know that Azerbaijan’s military expenditures
grow each year.

Armenia also increased defense expenditures compared to the previous
year. The increase is aimed at both training and other purposes,"
Oganian told journalists.

Armenian defense expenditures in 2007 amounted to 95.8 billion dram
(approximately $312 million).