Armenian draft state budget provides $376,5 million for defense sector

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian draft state budget for fiscal year 2008 provides 122 billion AMD (over $376,5 million) for defense sector.



The figure exceeds the 2007 index with 20%, RA Defense Minister Mikael Harutyunyan said adding that the funds will be spent on raising the army efficiency and integration of new equipment.



"Military's salary will be raised with some 10%. Officers will be paid some 182,000 AMD. Junior officer staff will receive some 110,000 AMD. Contract militants' salary will make some 90,000 while civil servants are supposed to be paid some 60,000," he said.



"Next year we also planning to provide some 600 apartments for the officer staff," he added.



3 mln AMD will spent on improving living conditions of the families of disabled and killed servicemen. "The efficiency of our Armed Forces will be maintained. Our army will defend our territory, our state and Nagorno Karabakh," the Minister said, IA Regnum reports.