Armenia`s defense spending to dwindle 30%
Armenia`s military budget will be reduced 30 percent
in 2010, Armеniа Today news agency quoted a military official as
saying.
Col. Vaqarshaq Avetisyan, the senior financial expert at the Defense Ministry, said the budget will be 130 billion Drams. Of note, the country`s 2009 budget was the same, but the spending will go down next year due to a reduction in the currency rate.
But Avetisyan claims the currency depreciation will not affect the Defense Ministry`s ``main expenses.``
Vaan Shirkhanyan, Armenia`s former Deputy Defense Minister, says the reduction in military spending will have an impact on the country`s defense capabilities.
``The army is a dynamic structure that is based on financial injections. The budget has been increasing 100-120 million Drams every year. This could not but affect the provision of military security. But today, Azerbaijan is sharply increasing its military budget and is acquiring up-to-date weapons, while Armenia is cutting spending. One of the important issues today is arming the military, because there is a notion called physical aging. Also, there is an issue of providing the army with modern weaponry.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Azerbaijan is committed to peace talks, but has not ruled out a military solution to the dispute if Yerevan`s policy of occupation persists.
Col. Vaqarshaq Avetisyan, the senior financial expert at the Defense Ministry, said the budget will be 130 billion Drams. Of note, the country`s 2009 budget was the same, but the spending will go down next year due to a reduction in the currency rate.
But Avetisyan claims the currency depreciation will not affect the Defense Ministry`s ``main expenses.``
Vaan Shirkhanyan, Armenia`s former Deputy Defense Minister, says the reduction in military spending will have an impact on the country`s defense capabilities.
``The army is a dynamic structure that is based on financial injections. The budget has been increasing 100-120 million Drams every year. This could not but affect the provision of military security. But today, Azerbaijan is sharply increasing its military budget and is acquiring up-to-date weapons, while Armenia is cutting spending. One of the important issues today is arming the military, because there is a notion called physical aging. Also, there is an issue of providing the army with modern weaponry.``
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law. Azerbaijan is committed to peace talks, but has not ruled out a military solution to the dispute if Yerevan`s policy of occupation persists.
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