ARMENIA’S MILITARY BUDGET TO GROW BY 20% IN 2008
Noyan Tapan
Nov 1, 2007
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. By the 2008 draft state budget of
the RA, it is envisaged to allocate 122 bln drams (about 375 mln USD)
for defence needs, which is more by 20% as compared with 2007, the
RA defence minister Mikael Harutyunian told reporters on November
1. According to him, these funds will first of all used to increase
the fighting efficiency of the armed forces, purchase new armaments
and keep the old ones.
Salaries of servicemen will be increased by 10%. The average salary of
officers will make 182 thousand drams, of non-commissioned officers –
110 thousand drams, of contractual servicemen – about 90 thousand
drams, and civil staff of the armed forces – about 60 thousand
drams. The increase in allocations will also be used to propvide
officers and non-commissioned officers with apartments. The minister
said that it is envisaged to build about 600 apartments in 2008. 3
bln drams will be allocated for improvement of living conditions of
families of killed and disabled servicemen.