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Armenia’s defense budget will increase significantly next year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a joint meeting of the parliament’s standing committees on Wednesday.

“The defense spending will increase by 113% or 270 billion drams in 2023 compared to 2018 to make up 509 billion drams (approx. $1.2 billion),” he noted.

The premier recalled that the government has launched reforms in the army and submitted several legislative amendments to the parliament.

“They are aimed at setting a standard and a salary in accordance with that standard,” Pashinyan said.

“The purpose of this entire process is the transition to the professional army, and, of course, the enhancement of Armenia’s defense capacity. The substantial rise in the defense spending and the military reforms, our intention to build a professional army in no way contradict the agenda of peace advanced by the Armenian government,” he explained.