DUSHANBE, February 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Leader of the Social-Democratic Party (SDPT) Rahmatillo Zoirov calls on the government to reform the national army.

Speaking at a news conference in Dushanbe on February 22, SDPT leader noted that the government must take efforts to form the professional army on a contractual basis as soon as possible.

“Our army today is unfit for action,” said Zoirov, “It is necessary to improve training of military personnel and level of technical ability.”

Mr. Zoirov also offers to reestablish military training chairs at the country’s higher educational institutions.

According to him, many young men resist military service because of difficult conditions.  “To avoid military service many conscript age young seek entry to universities or migrant work in Russia,” said Zoirov.  “Conscript age young men now constitute some 30-40 percent of Tajik labor migrants working outside the country and they do not ant to return to avoid the military service.”