Armenia spent $170 mln on arms purchase from Russia in 2017May 21, 2018 - 12:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Under the budget of 2017, Armenia was to spend AMD 209.8 billion on the defense sector. According to a document by the National Statistical Service, however, expenditures topped AMD 294 billion, which is by about AMD 85 billion more than initially planned. In an emailed response to PanARMENIAN.Net 's inquiry, the Defense Ministry said that AMD 82.2 billion (apx. $170 million) out of the AMD 85 billion were spent to finance the delivery of Russian-made military products as part of the state export loan provided by Russia. The remaining part, according to the statement, was spent on “other defense needs.” As reported earlier, Armenia’s Air Defense will be enhanced with Tor missile systems. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |