MOSCOW, November 13 (RIA Novosti) - Military faculties at Russia's universities will be abolished only after the last graduation, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Sunday.
"Military faculties will not be closed tomorrow," he said in an interview with Russia's TV Channel One. "They will keep working until the last graduate leaves the premises."
According to the minister, most of the current 229 military faculties will be abolished by 2008, leaving only 35 at Russia's civilian institutions of higher education. Another 33 military faculties will be transformed into military training centers.
"I would like to reiterate that students will not be drafted during their studies, although graduates of many universities will have to serve one year in the military," the minister said.
At present, about 170,000 students are taking military training programs at 229 civilian universities in Russia.
