MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF SERVICEMEN IN THE NATIONAL ARMY OF ARMENIA TRANSITED TO PROFESSIONAL BASIS
Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, March 30, 2007, p. 3
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 2, 2007 Monday
Serzh Sarkisyan, Security Council Secretary and Defense Minister
of Armenia, reported that more than one-third of servicemen in the
national army have already transited to a professional basis.
Sarkisyan said: "We have more than 8,000 privates and sergeants,
more than 10,000 officers and more than 5,000 warrant officers
serving on the contract basis. This is slightly more than one-third
of the army." According to Sarkisyan, the country will be unable to
fully transit to a professional army in the near future because the
state must spend a great deal more money on contract servicemen than
conscripts. The Defense Minister also reported that an ambitious
reform for the improvement of the armed forces to international
standards began in the army.