Belarus defense spending to grow by 24% in 2007

MINSK. Dec 7 (Interfax-AVN) - Belarus will spend 1.13 trillion Belarussian rubles ($527.64 million) on national defense in 2007, which is 24% more than in 2006, according to an explanatory memo to a 2007 draft budget that the lower chamber of the Belarussian parliament is considering now.

The country should spend 2.001 trillion Belarussian rubles ($934.35 million) for law enforcement activities and security, up by 15.7% compared to 2006.