ARMENIA COMPLETES LAW ON ALTERNATIVES TO

UNCLAS YEREVAN 002545

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN (SIDEREAS),DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV AM
SUBJECT: ARMENIA COMPLETES LAW ON ALTERNATIVES TO
MILITARY SERVICE

REFS: A) YEREVAN 1341

B) YEREVAN 1268

(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

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SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) On November 23, Armenia's National Assembly
amended legislation that provides draftees with a
mechanism to apply for an alternative to military
service. These amendments clear the way for full
implementation of the alternative military service law
that was passed in November 2003 as part of Armenia's
compliance with Council of Europe commitments. This
fall, the Ministry of Defense accepted approximately
twenty applications for alternative military service
from new draftees and intends to process the
applications before the recruits begin military
service. The GOAM has not set a timeline for the
release of conscientious objectors currently serving
prison sentences. End Summary.

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THE AMENDMENTS
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2. (SBU) The approved amendments make several important
changes to Armenia's law on alternatives to military
service. The category of "civil" (i.e. completely non-
military) service was added to the legislation,
enabling conscious objectors to work in hospitals and
other public facilities rather than the military. The
amendments also centralized the process of application
and review. Both civil and alternative military
service will last 42 months in contrast to the current
24 months draftees spend in the army.

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OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
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3. (SBU) Since the original law passed in November
2003, bureaucratic roadblocks have dogged
implementation of the legislation. The Ministry of
Defense did not complete recommendations on the
amendments until June of this year, missing the spring
legislative session (reftel A). While waiting for the
amendments, the GOAM did not begin work on the
logistics of implementation (reftel B). However, a
Ministry of Defense (MOD) spokesman argued that the
Government had not missed its deadline since the MOD
accepted applications this fall, and the review board
would make decisions before the new recruits begin
active duty next year.

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WORK TO COMPLETE
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4. (SBU) Several obstacles still exist before the law
can operate smoothly. The local representative of the
Jehovah's Witnesses told us that he did know that the
MOD was already accepting applications for alternatives
to military service. He said it was the Government's
responsibility to inform all draftees of the new
program. He also stated that he knew of no procedure
for the release of conscientious objectors who were
convicted under previous law. (Note: ten
conscientious objectors are serving prison terms and
three are awaiting trial for draft evasion. End note.)
A committee must still decide the composition and
operation of the application review committee.

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COMMENT
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5. (SBU) While work is not fully complete on an
effective system, the Armenian law on alternatives to
military service appears to be closer to a reality. We
understand the MOD may be somewhat irritated by being
forced to implement this program. Local conscientious
objectors are not quite sure they got what they asked
for.
EVANS