Armenian society not ready for extension of mandatory military
service’s term to 36 months: defense minister
YEREVAN, January 29, /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh defense minister told a
news conference today that `the Armenian society is not yet ready for
extension of mandatory military service’s term from 24 months to 36.’
He said this issue has been debated by the Armenian public for a long
time. In his words, the extension may be effected `when the time and
the need arise.’
`As a defense minister I would not conceal my desire to have the term
of mandatory military service prolonged, but currently there is no
need for it,’ he said.
The minister brushed aside rumors about increasing instances of
desertion. `We do not have such a problem in our armed forces,’ he
said. -0-