Russian Prime Minister: One Year is Optimum Term of Service for Conscripts

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov believes that one year "is an optimum term of service for conscripts." Opening the session of the government on Thursday, the Prime Minister said that one year is quite enough for training the servicemen properly.

Meanwhile, "we shall agree with such term of service for conscripts only after the government will assess the efficiency of the army," Mikhail Kasyanov stressed.

The Prime Minister also noted that the Cabinet of Ministers must determine the necessary stimuli for young people to agree to serve in the army on a contract. These stimuli must be acceptable, he added.

At its Thursday session the government is considering the draft federal targeted programme for 2004-2007 on ensuring the manning of military posts by contract servicemen.