ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES AMENDMENTS TO LAW ABOUT COMPULSORY CONSCRIPTION

ARKA
Dec 19, 2008

OSHAKAN, December 19. /ARKA/. Armenian Government approved the draft
amendments to the country’s law about compulsory conscription at its
visiting sitting Thursday.

The aim of the amendments is to ensure that citizens of conscription
age (18-27 years old) appear in call-up offices and fulfill their
constitutional obligations, Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran
Ohanyan said.

The Minister said that currently Armenian passport is valid in other
countries during five years, but this term has no connection with
citizens’ conscription and with the terms of corporal appearance in
military service offices.

According to the law about compulsory military service, citizens get
deferment of military service for up to three years due to health
conditions and till completion of their education if they study,
Ohanyan said.

"The existing conflict needs to be solved. Hence, it is reasonable to
tie the passport validity period with terms of citizens’ conscription,"
the Minister said.

Passing these amendments is expected to ensure that conscription-age
citizens appear in the military service offices and fulfill their
constitutional obligations, the Minister said.