Azernews.Az

YEREVAN – Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian has claimed that the country’s military budget should not be compared to Azerbaijan’s defense spending, Novosti Armenii news agency reported.

Ohanian told reporters Thursday that Armenia allegedly surpasses Azerbaijan in such areas as approaches to military expenditure and strict oversight of spending.

"If we draw a comparison, we spend less on defense. But thanks to the efforts of the Armenian leadership, we can solve the problems facing the military by other means as well, within the frames of our military cooperation with the allied countries."

Ohanian maintained further that Armenia has been steadily increasing its military expenses.

"The greater budgetary contributions for defense are, the better. This year these contributions are greater than they were last year. This increase is consistent and is being carried out in line with our country’s financial capabilities. This is enough."

Armenia’s defense spending is estimated at around $390 million in the draft state budget for 2011, with $374m of the amount designated for military defense. Also, $413,000 will be spent on foreign military aid.

Azerbaijan's defense spending will increase 89.7 percent to over 2.51 billion manats ($3.13 billion) next year.

Armenia has had territorial claims against Azerbaijan, a South Caucasus neighbor, since the early 1990s. The country’s armed forces have been occupying over 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, defying international law. Azerbaijani officials have repeatedly warned that the country’s land will be freed at any cost.