EXPERTS CONCERNED OVER MILITARY EXPENDITURES INCREASE IN SOUTH CAUCASUS
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PanARMENIAN.Net
12.06.2008 15:29 GMT+04:00

Global military expenditure totaled $1,3 trillion last year, fixing
a 10% increase against last year’s data, according to Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The major spenders are the United States with $578 billion and Russia
with $45,6 billion.

However, experts are concerned over the growth of military expenditures
in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Spending 5 per cent of its budget for military purposes, Tbilisi
exceeded expense items 28 times.

Azerbaijan has increased military expenditures half as much.

Yerevan doesn’t spend much. Its military expenditures amount to $272
million. But the country receives extra assistance from Russia and
Iran, whose funds can exceed local defense expenses, analitika.az
reports.

The database on military expenditure covers 168 countries and contains
consistent time series for the period since 1988. SIPRI military
expenditure data are based on open sources only, including a SIPRI
questionnaire, which is sent out annually to all countries included
in the database.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress