US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1341

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001341 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN; DRL 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, AM 
SUBJECT: FURTHER DELAYS FOR AMENDMENTS TO ALTERNATIVE 
MILITARY SERVICE LAW 
 
REFS:  YEREVAN 001268 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
2. (SBU) This message updates reftel.  A National 
Assembly committee expert who worked on Armenia's 
alternative military service law previously informed 
Post that amendments to the law on alternative military 
service would be completed during the spring 
legislative session or completed during an 
extraordinary session this summer.  However, the same 
source informed Post June 14 that, with only a few days 
left in the current legislative session, the amendments 
would not be discussed as part of this session's 
agenda.  He blamed the delay on the Ministry of Defense 
for not returning the amendments to the National 
Assembly in time with the Ministry's approval and 
comments. 
 
3. (SBU) Comment. The original alternative military 
service legislation took effect June 1 and was to apply 
to the Fall 2004 draft.  Post does not believe that 
implementation procedures can be ready by that time. 
Coordination between the Ministry of Defense and the 
National Assembly is at best a complicated bureaucratic 
process, and both sides appear unhurried to implement 
alternative military service provisions.  Post believes 
the law cannot realistically be implemented for new 
draftees before Spring 2005.  In the meantime, GOAM 
officials have given no tentative dates for the release 
of 23 conscientious objectors, currently in detention, 
who are affected by the new legislation. End comment 
ORDWAY