ALTERNATIVE ARMY TO A COUNTRY IN WAR
Support A1+!Parliament has today discussed the bill on “Alternative Military Service”. Bill author Vahan Hovhannissyan announced that during the period from the first stage to the second he had received about 50 suggestions from MPs, which had mainly been taken into account and amendments had been made.
The main change is the following: the clause, under which only the members of the religious organizations stately registered in Armenia can serve alternatively, was eliminated from the bill. In other words, through this change any citizen of Armenia, whose religious beliefs run counter to the obligatory military service in the military sub-units, weapon bearing, can take alternative service and if the reasons cited by an inductee in the application to military registration and enlistment office are well-founded.
Unlike the previous version of the bill conception for the alternative service is clarified in this one. a/ alternative military service is a special state service in the Armed Forces of Armenia; b/ alternative working service is a special state service out of the Armed Forces of Armenia.
Restriction for nominating the citizens with alternative military service for high state posts was relaxed in the bill. The change in the bill supposes that the citizens of alternative military service can’t be granted the right to bear weapons by law, or be appointed on high posts, on which functions for bearing and using weapons are provided by law.
If the bill is passed it will come into force from July 1, 2004.
