YEREVAN.- Head of Armenia’s standing committee on defense and national security Hrayr Tovmasyan dismissed reports on possible increase of terms of mandatory military service in the Armenian armed forces.

Speaking during the Thursday press conference, the MP said that rumors are untrue.  

“There is no such legislative initiative and there is no need,” he said adding there are no problems with recruitment.

According to him, contact-based military service is successfully developing as well. “We would like to transform to 100% contact-based service unless the country was faced with threat of war,” he added.

As to alternative military service, Karapetyan pointed out critical statements made by the representatives of the European structures. Head of the defense committee expressed agreement with a necessity to improve the institute of alternative military service stressing that citizens must have not only rights but responsibilities as well.