Armenia boosting defense budget by 11% to $720 million – PashinyanOctober 25, 2021 - 12:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia's defense spending in 2022 will increase by 11% year-on-year to reach AMD 345 billion (around $720 million), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Monday, October 25. Introducing the state budget for 2022 to lawmakers in the National Assembly, Pashinyan said "Armenia does not intend to conquer territories", maintaining that he is building up the army to protect the country against aggression. The PM said Armenia will be establishing a professional army, as well as strengthening the border guard service. He noted that the plans will be implemented step by step, also increasing the attractiveness of military service. Pashinyan also stressed the importance of the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the territory of Armenia, which he said, alongside the demarcation and delimitation of the border, will allow the protection of the borders to be mostly reserved for the border troops. Azerbaijani forces violated Armenia’s border in several sections in the provinces of Syunik and Gegharkunik on May 12 and 13 and are still refusing to withdraw their troops from the area. Since then, almost a dozen Armenian servicemen have been killed in Azerbaijan’s shooting, a dozen others have been wounded. Top stories The Cabinet of Ministers decided on Thursday, November 9 to allocated AMD 120 million to arrange the gathering. Michael Roth believes sanctions must be put on the table after Baku‘s ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Yerevan City Council has elected Tigran Avniyan from the ruling Civil Contract as the mayor of the Armenian capital. The Armenian Parliament on Tuesday, October 3 voted to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |