Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 18
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkey intends to purchase new military equipment using some funds to be obtained by the country's Defense Support Industry Fund as a result of the paid exemption from the military service, the Turkish Ministry of Defense Industry said Feb. 18.
A type of military equipment planned to be purchased by Turkey was not specified, the statement says.
It was earlier reported that the citizens, willing to use the system of paid exemption from military service, will have to pay 18,000 Turkish Liras. This amount will be transferred to the Turkish Defense Support Industry Fund for the country's development.
More than 200,000 people have already appealed to the armed forces with a request of the exemption from service, the Turkish Ministry of Defense said.
Turkey will keep the system of paid exemption from military service, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier.
The system of paid exemption from military service was introduced in Turkey in 2011.
Turkish armed forces consist of the Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard.
The Turkish army is recruited by conscription, the draft age is 20 years in the country, the term of compulsory military service - from 6 to 12 months.
After the discharge from the armed forces a citizen is considered to be subject to the draft and is left in the reserve up to the age of 45 years. In time of war, the men aged 16 to 60 years and the women aged 20 to 46 years who are able to bear arms may be called up to the army of Turkey, in accordance with the law.
In October 2013, the Turkish parliament has reduced the upper limit of term of compulsory military service in the country from 15 to 12 months.