YEREVAN. - Small payment for army needs will make everyone think about defending our country.

Defense Minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan said the aforementioned at the session of the profile committee of the parliament on Friday, speaking at the discussion on the draft amendments to the Law on compensation for harm to the life and health of servicemen when defending the Republic of Armenia.

The bill proposes to collect 1000 AMD from each working Armenian citizen, which is to be directed to the fund for insuring servicemen’s life and health. According to the Minister, the effect of this payment is rather psychological.

“When receiving salary, we want people to think about those who take care of our security,” said Sargsyan, who has been recently putting less emphasis on the state’s obligation to take care of the army.  

Pursuant to the bill, the families of those dead and servicemen with disability group I will receive non-recurrent 10 mln AMD (group II will receive 5 mln AMD), which will be followed by monthly payments during 20 years. The payment for officers, warrant officer and privates (dead and included in disability group I) will constitute 300,000, 250,000 and 100,000 AMD per month respectively. Those included in disability group II will get 200,000, 150,000 and 100,000 AMD per month respectively. 

Introducing the bill, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan noted that the new payment, will, among other things, remind of the society’s unity in defending the country. But Edmon Marukyan objected, noting that despite the importance of the expenses for the army, it is better to watch how the exiting means are spent.