Defence Minister: Compulsory military service might be abolished
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Georgia's Minister of Defence Tinatin Khidasheli says compulsory military service in Georgia might be abolished from next year.
"Georgia has made different commitments to the international community, including the abolishment of compulsory military service by the end of 2016. Therefore, this issue might be discussed,” she told local media outlet Liberali.
Minister Khidasheli also noted her personal opinion was to make military service completely based on contracts.
"I have said this many times and I will repeat it again that I am ready to visit Parliament Committees or discussions in Parliament in any format to reach a political consensus on what kind of army we want to have,” she said.
Currently, military service in Georgia is compulsory for male citizens from 18 to 27 years who do not have deferment or exemption from service.
Georgia is asking NATO to offer the country a Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the Warsaw Summit planned for July 2016.
Georgia could soon have its first female Minister of Defence. The country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili this morning nominated current MP Tinatin Khidasheli to this position.
From today no Georgian citizen will be forced to serve in the army. This morning Georgia’s Minister of Defence Tinatin Khidasheli signed a document that abolished compulsory military service at Georgia’s Defence Ministry.
Safety of the citizens, country’s sovereignty and compatibility with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) are some of the top challenges of the country’s defence system for 2017.