Contract soldiers from borderline villages, who participate in Defense of Motherland program, will be able to serve near their places of habitation, said Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan during the governmental hour in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

According to the program, conscripts who have served six months will be able to switch to contract service for five years. In this case, if in their native towns and villages there are military units, as well as units on combat duty, soldiers will be able to apply for their subsequent transfer to the specified places and areas.

"The command in such cases will be instructed to meet the soldiers' needs. We are now informing both soldiers and their families about this opportunity," Papikyan said.