February 26, 2004 - 19:04 AMT
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT RECALLS BILL ON MILITARY SERVICE FROM PARLIAMENT
The Armenian government recalls the bill on military service, which roused much protest of youth and student organizations. As reported by the press service of the government, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian today received a group of representatives of youth and student organizations to discuss the situation, formed around the discussion of the bill. The Premier stated that unfortunately the draft was not presented to the society in an enough grounded manner and before submitting it to the Parliament, it should have been discussed in detail with representatives of higher education institutions. A. Margarian noted that with the support of the parliamentary majority the government could approve of the bill, however it is not going to ignore suggestions of representatives of the sphere of education and science. In their turn representatives of youth organizations suggested that the Prime Minister recall the bill from the Parliament. Then, as the press service of the government reported, the Premier suspended the meeting with the students to confer with President Robert Kocharian. After that A. Margarian called the students' proposal acceptable and pledged to prepare a corresponding document on calling the bill back from the Parliament.