Shorter service

After many weeks of squabbling between the Christian Democrat and Free Democrat coalition partners in the German government, the two sides have finally agreed to shorten the country's compulsory military service and the alternative community service for conscientious objectors from nine to six months.

Leaders of the Christian Democratic Union and FDP parliamentary groups sat down in Berlin on Monday, not sure of what was going to come out of their meeting. Until now the FDP was not prepared to allow conscientious objectors to voluntarily extend their compulsory civilian service up to six months.

The agreement hammered out by the two sides on Monday allows just that. It also gives those doing community service instead of military service the option of choosing - two months into their stint - whether or not to extend it up to six months.

Compulsory military service, for those men drafted into the German Bundeswehr at age 19, will be cut to six months, with the option of voluntarily extending active duty.

The FDP was unable to convince its political partners to give those opting to do alternative community service a monetary bonus for signing up longer, as active duty soldiers get.

The agreement was nonetheless a success for the FDP because it paves the way for reducing the length of both services this year and strengthens the voluntary aspect of the duty. The FDP supports the idea of an all-volunteer, professional army and wants to do away with conscription.

gb/epd/dpa
Editor: Nancy Isenson