In its Cabinet session Thursday, the government of Armenia approved the draft law on amendments and addenda to the law on military service and servicemen's status.

Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, presenting the bill, noted that, accordingly, it is proposed to introduce a new system of transition from compulsory military service to contractual military service—and which will be called the "Defender of the Native Land" program.

"The program envisages the possibility of transitioning to contractual military service—according to the procedure established by the government—after the completion of the first six months of mandatory military service for rank-and-file and officers, setting the term of service at five years. As well as in the case of early dismissal from the service due to the expiration of the contract or being recognized as unfit due to health conditions, establishing the right to receive an honorarium for them. The amount of the honorarium is planned to be set at 5 million drams, which is managed freely," Papikyan said, in particular.

In his turn, PM Nikol Pashinyan noted that this is one of the steps toward the transition to a professional army in Armenia. He added that if the mandatory servicemen sign a contract for five years and become contract servicemen and pass certification, their salary will be doubled.