On 12 April, the Armenian Lawyers’ Association and the CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports organized a public discussion on the Draft Law on Making Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Military Service and the Status of a Soldier”, which was circulated for public discussion by the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports..

This draft envisages the provision of qualified personnel and qualified specialists in the fields of science and industry. The basis to promote and develop the spheres of scientific and technical, industrial, security and strategic importance for the state through granting deferrals: the age limit for conscription for citizens on the basis of granting deferment for education in the Republic of Armenia will be raised, which will enable citizens who were granted deferment to receive education at all levels of learning.  

“It is very important that our talented children, the boys have the opportunity to continue their education in Armenian universities, so that this added value is created not for other countries, but for Armenia for the benefit of our country,” Mr. Karen Zadoyan, ALA President, Coordinator of CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia said in his opening remarks.

According to him, the world will take Armenia into account when the country will be able to create added value for the world and there is no need to rely on mercy, since the powerful of this world do not consider other countries only out of mercy.

Mr. Hovhannes Gevorgyan, Head of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, mentioned that now with the current procedure of granting deferment on the basis of education, citizens are granted a deferment from compulsory military service in case of winning prizes in the relevant Olympiads and for being accepted in one of the top 50 Universities according to Shanghai rating. And in case of master’s and postgraduate studies also having corresponding achievements and corresponding points by the method of calculation of significant achievements defined by the procedure.

“There is an unfair situation here in several respects. First of all, we artificially direct the potential of our many young talented boys, who are our future, to foreign universities. Without excluding, not limiting the peculiarities, advantages and positive aspects of international education and getting education in those universities, nevertheless, we must keep the center of intellectual gravity of the youth, which is considered an essential component of our intellectual potential, and transfer it to Armenian universities. This will also contribute to the development of our university system; there will be an opportunity to work with the best young people and so on.

It should be noted that the priority will be given to the student in the relevant universities with specialties that are a priority and important for the state. Universities and the procedure and conditions for studying in relevant specialties will be determined by the government.

According to Mr. Arkady Sahakyan, Chairman of the Governing Board of CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia, as the war showed in the 21st century, one of the most important places in the 5th generation wars is the intellect. “We must be able to prepare and use that intellect from the point of view of our country’s comprehensive security. It is very important to understand that today’s wars are technological and are partly based on artificial intelligence, and we must create values ​​in the field of education so that our young people can develop our military industry, because we owe debts to our people and homeland,” he said.

The RA Ministry of Defense expressed its position on the draft law.

“There is a large field for discussion, but in the light that the issue should be discussed both in the light of the interests of the Ministry of Defense and in the field of interests in the field of education and science,” Mr. Ara Kodabashyan, Chief Lawyer of the Conscription and Mobilization Service of the RA Ministry of Defense said.

Mr. Elbak Elbakyan, the Vice-Rector of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, mentioned, “First of all, the draft law proceeds from the state interest, conditioned by the fact that if we ensure the continuity of education, we train more effective, qualified personnel.” According to him, if a comparison is made between specialists who have completed two years of military service and study without a break, the difference will be significant and those specialists can carry out a more important mission for the country.

The participants of the discussion mentioned that the deferment should not be considered as an option for exemption from compulsory military service. They also talked about the ways to avoid possible corruption risks. The participating women also raised the issue of girls’ involvement in military service. It should be noted that representatives of state structures, as well as high schools, universities, civil society organizations took part in the discussion.

The observations and recommendations received as a result of the discussion will be submitted to the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.