“I don’t think making it an election issue, a debate issue, apart perhaps the mobilization of certain groups of people for certain political forces would bring us additional benefits. Time would continue to be lost,” K. Budrys told Radio News on Tuesday.
“We really don’t want it (the subject of the universal conscription – BNS) to become a tool to achieve some other goals, rather than what we are specifically talking regarding – so that as many people as possible in Lithuania have completed military service and we have a broad base for armed defense,” he said. adviser to the president.
According to K. Budris, the reform draft of military conscription prepared by the Ministry of National Defense (KAM) needs to be amended in such a way that universal conscription is established in it. According to the president’s adviser, the best time for political forces to agree on a general convocation was in 2022.
K. Budrys promised that the head of the country supports and will support the idea of a general election, and this topic “will definitely not disappear from the radar and agenda”.
“There really needs to be a deeper discussion behind closed doors, why someone still has doubts that this is a good decision. And if you have doubts, there must be alternatives, how we will fill the army and prepare the reserve”, said K. Budrys.
The Ministry of Defense has prepared a reform of conscription, which is to be submitted to the Government in the coming weeks.
Minister Arvydas Anušauskas says that the new procedure would create the legal prerequisites for the implementation of the universal conscription of men.
According to him, the universality of conscription makes it possible to achieve the fact that, according to the new model, studying in higher education is not treated as an exception that allows to postpone the service.
The new procedure envisages that high school students perform their service by participating in the training of Junior Officer Commanders or by joining the National Defense Volunteer Forces, thus combining it with studies. This service will be available on weekends or during the summer.
The changes also provide for the differentiation of normal service by duration – young people will have the option of six or nine months of service.
The conscription age limit would be 18-21 instead of the current 18-23. Persons wishing to perform voluntary service might, as now, do so between the ages of 18 and 38.
The army estimates that up to 7,000 people graduate every year and are fit enough to serve. guys.
#K.Budrys #general #election #election #topic
2024-07-22 02:28:54
