Armenian Defense Minister: "We will raise military expenses to maintain balance of powers in the region"

The due announcement was made by Armenian Foreign Minister Seyran Oganyan.

"Of course, we are concerned with the rise of the military expenses of Azerbaijan, but this rise is a reality and we should everything to maintain the quality balance. We will also raise our military expenses", the Minister told reporters on May 12.

According to the Defense Minister, Armenia's military expenses are growing both on the line of training of military specialists and in other directions.

"We will do everything possible to introduce the expenditure estimate which will meet the needs of the army, to the government. I do not want to call the rise percent rate, but we will carry out the analytical work", said the Minister.

At the same time, Oganyan informed that budget assignments have been executed for maintenance of the system of the Defense Ministry in 2007 and like in previous years they were directed to maintain the combativity of the armed forces, purchase and operation of military technique, improvement of living conditions of servicemen.

The expenses for financing of the defense sphere by the Armenian Defense Ministry for 2007 made up 95.8 bln drams (about $312 mln), which is a 22.4$ rise as compared to 2006.

/Novosti-Armenia/