Armenian parliament approves army reform program

YEREVAN, December 7. /ARKA/. The Armenian National Assembly has approved today in the second and final reading a set of amendments and additions to the law on military service and the status of servicemen.

The amendments designed by Armenia’s Defense Ministry, call for a new system of contract military service, as well as for cutting the mandatory military service term for private conscripts.

According to the ministry, the amended law aims to increase the attractiveness of contract military service and introduce a new system of transition from conscription to contract military service for privates and officers.

The program implies that after six months of compulsory military service, privates and officers of Armenian armed forces will be able to sign five-year long contract service agreements.

Upon the expiration of the term or in case of termination of service due to health problems, the contract servicemen will be paid ‘honorary’ payment of 5mln drams.

The military servicemen who sign the contract service agreement must also pass the evaluation exam (certification) and in case of positive evaluation, they will be given bonuses.

In case of refusing to serve until the end of the contract term, the period of the contract service will not be taken into account and the citizen will have to complete the compulsory service.-0-