Azerbaijan keeps on increasing defense expenses

PanARMENIAN.Net - Within the scope of the 2008 state budget adjustment, Azerbaijan will add about AZM 320 million to the military spending, MP Zahid Oruj said.



He said the bill on 2008 state budget amendments has been received by Azerbaijan's Milli Mejlis. The proposed adjustment envisions increasing military expenses by 32%.



"It is not correct to deduce from the military spending rise that Azerbaijan conducts a militaristic policy. The policy of militarization is the question when more than 2% o GDP goes on military purposes. This percentage is quite lower in Azerbaijan," Oruj said.



MP Igbal Aghazade hailed the tendency of military expenses' rise but says there must be a report how the funds are spent.



"Defense technology in a country that cooperates with NATO should be brought in line with the Alliance's," he said, the Azeri Press Agency reports.