Zahid Oruc: "Azerbaijan is a leader on defense spendings in the South Caucasus"

He said it is planning to allocate AZN 1,205,000,000 for the sector of defense and security for 2009.

"The drop in defense spendings does not prove that Azerbaijan is distancing from its course in the sphere of army strengthening. In the past several years our country is holding a policy on army strengthening and capital investments were made into this sphere, including technique and defense.

To compare: currently Azerbaijan defense budget is thrice as high as Armenia's and 2.6 times higher as compared to Georgia.

Azerbaijan is leading on defense spendings in the South Caucasus.

At the same time the issue of funds, allocated for defense can be reviewed in early 2009. This issue is at president's competence", said Oruj. 

/Day.Az/