ARMENIA INTENDS TO ADVANCE IN ARMAMENT SPHERE IN 2004

Armenia will receive armaments from different countries to be repaid not from the defense ministry’s budget but at the expense of other budget funds, as reported by Arminfo agency, Armenian defense minister Serge Sargsian stated upon the completion of the private discussion of the Armenia’s accounts for the next year. In his words, all the payments for purchasing military equipment will be made from official resources. S. Sargsian also reported that the budget financing of Armenia’s defense is twice lower that Azerbaijan’s. “However I am convinced that the Armenian President and the Prime Minister will find funds essential for the army equipment, as in 2004 we intend to make a step forward including advance in the sphere of armament as well”, – the minister stated.