Monday, December 18 2017 13:44

ArmInfo. Students who oppose the law "On Military Duty and Status of Servicemen" resumed their hunger strike.

Head of the initiative group "For the Development of Science" David  Poghosyan wrote on his Facebook page: "After the demonstration of our  constructive position and the lack of results on the results of  discussions with plenipotentiary representatives of state structures  of the draft law" On Military Duty and Status of Servicemen  "development of science" there is no other way out than to stop the  discussion with the authorities and continue the struggle from the  very moment it stopped. Our struggle ended in a hunger strike. I'm on  a hunger strike and only if our demands are met, we will stop it," he  said.

Members of the initiative demand to restore the system of deferment  during the military conscription. They recognize that the existing  system needed to be reformed, but not to those that were proposed by  the government. "The Ministry of Defense does not recognize the  negative impact of the law on science and the importance of  preserving the right to defer for the development of science." In our  work with the deputies and the Ministry of Defense staff there were  no tangible results: these negotiations are conducted only for  imitation, in these conditions, it makes no sense to continue  negotiations, "David Petrosyan said.

First Deputy Minister of Defense Artak Zakaryan does not understand  the logic of students protesting against the law. In a conversation  with journalists in the National Assembly of Armenia, he said that  the last meeting with the youth was with the Minister of Defense,  where a clear agreement was reached that young people will make clear  proposals. According to Zakaryan, they are still waiting for  proposals.

"This week we were asked to submit proposals according to which it is  possible to clearly define significant achievements in the field of  science and education for granting talented youth the right to  deferment. To be honest, it is now strange for me that these  opportunities, for which the students fought so, are not now are  used," he said.

Artak Zakaryan also does not understand the meaning of the hunger  strike, since he does not agree with the fact that the demands were  not met, because the representatives of the Defense Ministry are  still waiting for the proposals of the students. He noted that young  people who opposed this law had two proposals, one of which to  transfer the education system to the army, but this requirement  cannot be fulfilled, since it can undermine both the army and the  education system. As for the proposals, which should clearly indicate  the criteria that relate to special achievements in the field of  science, Zakaryan stressed that they have been discussed and adopted.

"In any case, we must establish all the standards, and we will do it,  it would be great if the young people brought their proposals, but  you know, it looks like a whim," Zakaryan said.

Students who opposed the "Law on Military Duty and Status of  Serviceman" stopped strike and hunger strike on November 15 after  meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan and Vice-  President Eduard Sharmazanov. It was agreed to work together on the  document at the Round Table.  However, later the joint work came to a  standstill.