02 March 2004, 16:45
Position of Ministry of Education regarding draft Law on Military Service is criminal, Armenian students say
"I know that most of you will not continue studies, however, I am glad that you have fought together for the minority," Rafael Kazarian, an academician of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, said at a meeting of students devoted to their fight against the draft Law on Military Service.
The draft law, which has been recalled the other day by the Government from the National Assembly under the pressure of the student community, supposes that the service in the armed forces will be deferred for undergraduates and post-graduates no longer.
Members of the initiative group For the Sake of Science Development, who organized the meeting, stated that all steps taken by the student body showed it was a real force and it could not be ignored, as they tried to do it until very recently.
They called the silence of the Ministry of Science and Education criminal and expressed their bewilderment towards the stance of Minister Sergo Eritsyan, who, as they think, has no his own opinion.
The draft law was recalled with the "for indefinite period of time" wording. It means there is still a possibility for it to appear in the National Assembly again.
Author: Ashot Ter-Grigorian, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
