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Military service is necessary to become real man, Lukashenka says

 

Service in the military is necessary to become a real man, Alyaksandr Lukashenka told reporters on Friday while staying in the Hrodna region.

"In my personal opinion, if he hasn't felt the heat, served in the army for a year, a year and a half, two or three years, or not called up for a month’s or two month’s military training, what kind of man is he?" Mr. Lukashenka said. "We should train every man to be a defender. The army plays a key role in this respect."

Mr. Lukashenka said that the army changes young men beyond recognition, turns them into "real men," and helps them "realize their role and their significance."

That is why Belarus should not fully replace conscript servicemen with contract personnel or widely introduce civilian service as an alternative to military service, he said.

The government has already done everything necessary to reform the country's Armed Forces, Mr. Lukashenka noted. The issue of contract military service is no longer raised, he said, explaining that "there are contract personnel where they are necessary and conscripts where they are necessary."

As for civilian alternatives to compulsory military service, a fully fledged system has been established in Belarus in this regard, with lists of young men who want to do civilian service being drawn up on a regular basis, Mr. Lukashenka said. Although applications for civilian service are never rejected, there are few applicants, he claimed.

"If certain individuals want to do [alternative service], I don't recommend it, I'm not a supporter of it," Mr. Lukashenka said. "It is necessary to serve in the army to be a real man."

"Perhaps, your opinion is somewhat different, but this is the opinion I hold now," he concluded. // BelaPAN