ArmInfo. The Student Council of the Yerevan State University expressed its position on the draft law "On Military Service and the Status of the Serviceman", as well as on protest action by university students.
As stated in the statement of the body, adopted by a majority vote after an extended meeting of its presidium, in particular, it says: "Based on the opinions and positions of students of all faculties of the university, we declare that the YSU Student Council does not share the approaches of our friends protesting the draft law" On Military Service and status of a serviceman."
The Student Council opposes the discussion in the format of the opposition of science and security. "Discussion of issues related to the army does not need to be linked with the problems of science."
The student body asks about the extent to which the existence of a delay has so far solved the problems of science and contributed to the development of science in Armenia? "How many graduate students, without compulsory military service in the ranks of the Armenian Armed Forces, continued scientific and pedagogical activity?" It is enough to glance at the statistics and it will become clear that linking the development of science with the task of postponement is simply unjustifiable, "the statement said.
The Presidium of the Council calls for restraint, and solve the problem in conditions of mutual respect and healthy discussion. "We also urge political forces to refrain from politicizing students, any attempts to present student actions and processions in party and narrow group interests," the YSU Student Council said in a statement.
Meanwhile, students protesting the bill to cancel the postponement of compulsory military service, despite the rain on the eve, on the eve, already on the fourth day gathered near the walls of the main building of Yerevan State University of Armenia. Following the meeting with Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan, they decided to continue the struggle. According to the coordinator of the group "For the Development of Science" David Petrosyan, the Prime Minister offered to present his demands on the law after its adoption in the National Assembly. In those days, according to students, proposals should be considered in advance and immediately included in the final bill. The students intend to continue the protests until the bill (on October 27 the National Assembly of Armenia adopted it in the first reading) will not be removed from the agenda. They believe that the adoption of this bill will seriously damage the system and the quality of higher education in Armenia. Participants of the action also assured that many teachers support their position, however, the university administration exerts pressure on them. Protesters against the bill students of Yerevan State University on the eve of 18:00 staged a protest in front of the parliament building.
The draft law on the abolition of the deferment of compulsory military service, calls for the recruitment of all young people who have reached the age of 18 and have no health problems incompatible with service in the Armed Forces.