PRESS-RELEASE

Moscow, October 28, 2000

RADIO STATION "EKHO MOSKVY" ("Echo of Moscow"), 2000-10-28 19:36:50: The congress of the association "Yabloko" which takes place in Golitsyno (locality near Moscow) is going to address to the president of the country with the appeal to "display political will and begin the military reform". The press-secretary of the association informed the "Interfax" about this fact. The "Yabloko" supposes, in particular, that now it's possible to abandon the conscription and to begin the transition of the army to a contract system.

DECLARATION OF THE ARA SECRETARY NIKOLAY KHRAMOV:

"The "Yabloko" seems to become a first all-Russian political force that seriously projects the immediate abolition of the conscription slavery as its specific political goal. However, one would like to hope that the deal won't limit itself to the ritual invocations addressed to the colonel Putin - we've heard enough of them and we'll hear even more. The "Yabloko" is a serious political force acting througout the country, experienced in parliamentary and presidential election campaigns. Anyway, it's not less serious force than Russian branch of the "Greenpeace".

Grigory Alexeyevich, don't beg Putin for something he maybe - let's suppose it for a minute - would like to do but isn't able to do. Think of the all-Russian referendum on the abolition of the compulsory military service in time of peace. Is it possible that "Yabloko" in alliance with the soldiers' mothers, human rights champions, radicals, antimilitarists won't be able to collect two million signatures to give the citizens of Russia the possibility to take their own decision on this problem?!".

For further information:

tel. (095) 208-1805, (902) 675-6379

www.ara.ru

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ARA - Antimilitarist Radical Association

Pechatnikov Per. 6, 103045 Moscow, Russia

tel./fax +7-095-208.1805

mailto:ara@ara.ru

http://www.ara.ru