TODAY.AZ / Politics

Azerbaijan to increase military spending by 32%

28 April 2008 [14:56] - TODAY.AZ
Within the scope of the 2008 state budget regulation, Azerbaijan will add about AZM 320 million to the military spending, MP Zahid Oruj told APA.
He said the bill on 2008 state budget amendment has been received by Azerbaijan’s parliament - Milli Majlis. The proposed adjustment envisions increasing military spending by 32% to AZN 1.344 billion from AZN 1.019 billion.

He added that the increased spending will support defense forces, national security, and defense and security researches.

Of this, AZN 1 263.531 million will go to defense forces, AZN 75 million to national security, AZN 2.686 million to defense and security researches and AZN 1.816 million to other expenses.

He said the military spending rises in line the country’s state budget, and the rise in military expenses doesn’t overtake total budget growth rate.

"It is not correct to deduce from the military spending rise that Azerbaijan conducts a militaristic policy. The policy of militarization is the question when more than 2% o GDP goes o military purposes. This percentage is quite lower in Azerbaijan," he added.

MP Igbal Aghazade hailed the tendency of military spending rise but says there must be a report how the funds are spent.

"Military vehicles and equipment in a country that cooperates with NATO should be brought in line with the Alliance’s," he added, saying Azerbaijan’s boosting military spending is quite understandable as its lands were occupied.

The bill will be discussed at a parliament meeting on May 2.
budget revenues are predicted in equivalent to USD 12.7 billion and expenditures USD 13 billion for 2008 in the proposed budget adjustment.

The adjustment is designed to boost social, economic and military spending. The meeting on May 2 will also hear a 2007 budget execution report.

Earlier, 2008 budget revenues were approved at AZN 7.383 billion (USD 8.895 billion) and expenditures at AZN 8.509 billion (USD 10.252 billion) and the budget gap is at AZN 1.126 billion.

If the new budget amendment is approved, the projected revenues will jump about 43% and expenditures 26%.

The 2008 consolidated budget revenues were projected at AZN 10.508 billion (USD 12.660 billion) and expenditures at AZN 10.184 billion (USD 12.270 billion).

/APA/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/44600.html

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