Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday that he will not advance compulsory military enlistment, adding that more positive publicity should be given to the military career and greater attractiveness should be created, through pay commensurate with the involvement of each soldier.

„I haven’t thought about compulsory enlistment, and I won’t advance anything like that. That’s a very clear point. For the rest, I think there must be more information and more attractiveness for a military career, more attractiveness meaning also pay commensurate with the involvement of each soldier, more publicity,” said Iohannis.

He added that „more positive publicity is important, that is, the world, especially young people who would eventually aim for a military career, should know very precisely what the opportunities are, what the methods are, how to get there.”

„Many issues are quite little known to the general public.”

Iohannis was asked about a statement in which he stressed the need for Romania to strengthen its military reserve.

He made the statements on an official visit to South Korea.

In February, March and April, the Chief of Defence looked the first series of enlistment-selection of professional soldiers this year, a process consisting mainly of the registration and selection of candidates (preparation of files, physical, psychological and medical assessments), and the distribution per military units of the successful candidates.

The general finding was that most of the candidates failed to pass the physical assessment, according to a press statement by the Defence Ministry released on Monday.

AGERPRES