The voluntary conscription of women, as promoted by the government and voted for by the House plenum, cannot in any way be considered a serious measure to strengthen defence, but rather a “spasmodic act for creating impressions” and “a hole in the water”, the Centre for Strategic Studies said on Friday.

The absence of proper examination of the issue, voluntary attendance, the “futility of finding attractive incentives”, training time and voluntary withdrawal, “without the obligation to serve in the reserves – which is considered the backbone of the defence of the Republic – is a cycle without substance”, the centre said.

“If the authorities truly believed in strengthening defence within the framework of a comprehensive, coherent and not occasional defence policy,” they would properly plan it.

The centre added that “spasmodic actions” such as these are neither helpful nor appropriate.