Defence chief: Armenia begins transition to professional army

Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has said tha the transition to a professional army has begun in Armenia

He made the remarks in an interview with Armenian Public TV, Caliber.Az reports, quoting the Armenian media.

One of the goals of the army reform in the Armenian Armed Forces is the transition to a professional army.

The transition to a professional army has already begun, and the Armenian Defence Ministry will come up with a corresponding legislative initiative in the near future, he said.

The minister added that it is planned to recruit contract workers "from scratch" and that the professional service will be "organically linked" with the urgent service.

The possibility of certification will be created for active military contractors.

Papikyan said that that from the autumn of this year, conscripts will undergo a mandatory training stage, only after that they will be sent to military units.