Turkey may adopt Euro 10000 military exemption scheme

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the details of a planned military exemption scheme on Tuesday, Nov 22, saying any applicant over the age of 30 will be charged TL 30,000 (Euro 10,000 )in lieu of performing compulsory military service if the scheme is implemented.

Erdogan said during his Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday that the government is done with a bill that would allow draftees to pay a certain fee instead of performing compulsory military service. In what comes as a surprise for many, the draftees will not be obliged to serve 21 days according to the new plan, as opposed to previous military exemption offers.

Those who apply for military exemption will have to pay half of the fee up front and will be allowed to pay the rest in six instalments. They will not receive any kind of military training.

Compulsory military service has been a much-debated issue in Turkey, which has been fighting terrorism for decades. Military service is compulsory for all healthy men in Turkey, and the length of service depends on one's level of education as well as the military's needs. Currently, university graduates with a four-year degree serve for either six months as a private or a year as a second lieutenant, depending on what is needed, those who do not have a four-year bachelor's degree are obliged to fulfil 15 months of military service.

Erdogan said the proposed system will not create a flaw in Turkey's fight against terrorism, adding that the revenue obtained from this system will be used to help support the relatives of martyrs and veterans, Today’s Zaman reported.