4 minute read
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ announced on October 4 that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government will introduce legislation that will reduce the duration of compulsory military service from 15 to 12 months as soon as possible. As Armenpress was reported by the Turkish Zaman, Bozdağ's remarks came following statements from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the issue late on Thursday.
Speaking in a televised interview that aired on the private ATV channel late on Thursday, Erdoğan said: “There will be a reduction in the duration of compulsory military service. I think it will be 12 months. The duration of the short term military service for university graduates will remain the same, at six months. There is actually preliminary work on this issue.”
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Belgrade, Bozdağ said: “Our prime minister announced it on a TV program yesterday [on Thursday] that a consensus has been reached to reduce the duration of compulsory military service to 12 months. On this issue, talks between the government and the General Staff have matured. A consensus has been reached. I think, this step will be taken as soon as possible because with the announcement, great expectations have been raised among the people. So, I think this legislation will come out of Parliament as soon as possible,” he said.
When asked about the details of the amendment, the deputy prime minister said he had no information on the details of the amendment for the time being, but they will become clear in time.
Bozdağ said the move is the result of several-years-long work and not new.
In Turkey, military service is compulsory for all men in good health over the age of 20. However, if a man is enrolled in an institution of higher learning, he is allowed to delay his service until he receives his degree. The length of service depends on one's level of education as well as the military's needs. Currently, university graduates with a four-year degree serve either for six months as a private or a year as a second lieutenant, while those who do not have a four-year bachelor's degree are obliged to perform 15 months of military service.
In 2011, Parliament passed the Bill Amending the Law on Military Service to enable some men to skip military service. The bill allowed men 30 years old and over to get an exemption from compulsory military service in exchange for TL 30,000.
Also in 2011, graduates from the police academy or police officers who have completed higher education programs of at least two years were made exempt from compulsory military duty if they have served in the police force for 10 years or more.
Plans for shortened military service are signs that the government's ongoing efforts to settle the terrorism problem through dialogue and other peaceful methods are being reflected in state policy. The AK Party government is currently engaged in talks with the jailed leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to urge the group to end their terrorist activities and leave Turkey. In line with the talks, PKK terrorists began withdrawing from Turkey although they recently halted the withdrawal. The Turkish military is expected to need fewer soldiers to fight terrorism once the PKK problem is resolved.
