During the meeting between the Russian President and the Cabinet members, the minister reported that his trip was primarily dedicated to the issues of military training and pre-conscription preparation of the youth.
"I focused on these issues because, in accordance with your decision, I have already instructed the General Staff to start the preparation for the transition from a two-year service to a 12-month service term starting in 2008," Mr. Ivanov stated.
He said that the Defense Ministry must focus, in particular, on pre-conscription training in specialties that require high level of technical skills.
In addition, Mr. Ivanov reported that during his trip to the Siberian military district he inspected the socio-economic situation in the region, including the impact of the monetization law on living conditions of the military personnel.
Sergei Ivanov also stated that the re-integration of the Railway troops into the Armed Forces had been conducted in a smooth and orderly manner.
"In 2004, we decided to re-integrate the Railway troops into the Armed Forces. The task had been carried out smoothly and without problems. As a result, fifty thousand military personnel had been added to the Armed Forces," Mr. Ivanov underlined.
