Russian Prime Minister, a candidate for president, has published an article on national security and army, saying that the country needs 700,000 professional servicemen, the number of conscripts will drop to 145,000 in three years.
His article was entitled “To be strong: guarantees of national security for Russia”. The prime minister said that military reforms were inevitable. One of the new initiatives is the Military Police for enforcement of discipline. Additional payments will be offered for students who served. Putin proposed formation of preferences when hiring them for state service.
The prime minister noted the need for an organization resembling the Voluntary Association for Assistance to Army, Aviation and Fleet, Voluntary Association for Assistance to Defenses, Aviation and Chemical Construction and Russian Defence Sports and Techniques Organization.
The candidate for president wants the military to be modernized with new equipment. Staff of military industry needs additional social guarantees and privileges. The initiative involves hiring new specialists and organizing training for students at advanced Russian and world laboratories, institutes and factories.
Putin emphasized that Russia needs own military industry. He reminded that the Soviet Union used US and British vehicles in the 1930s to build tanks, experiences allowed them to construct the legendary T-34.
Putin published the previous 5 articles on Mondays. The first one concerned Russian challenges. The prime minister expressed his views and reasons for running for president in 2012. The second article stressed on ethnic problems, third – economy, fourth – democracy, fifth – social aspects. The prime minister’s articles were published by Izvestia, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Vedomosti, Kommersant and website putin.2012.ru.
