Prime Minister Kasyanov on goal of Russian military reform

The main goal of the military reform in Russia is transition to contract service in the army, said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on Thursday, when opening a routine government session devoted to the concept of the Russian army reform.

The government has a difficult task to fulfil, the issue is sensitive for the society as it involves many citizens, the Prime Minister believes. Certain results in the sphere have already been achieved, with the active participation of the Defense Ministry, the government's economic bloc and the State Duma deputies, he said.

Yet another problem, along with the transition to the contract system, is servicemen's irrelevant activities, as they are sometimes sent to do agricultural works and non-military construction, Kasyanov pointed out.

A very important goal in the course of the reform is to create a unified interlinked system of rear services support, according to the Prime Minister.

At the session the government also listened to a report on the military reform's concept by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.