MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) - The reforms in the Russian armed forces and in social protection of servicemen that were pursued under Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov should be irreversible, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.
"A decision on a military reform is made by the supreme commander-in-chief. First it was Vladimir Putin, then it was I, and now Putin again. But, certainly, a lot depends on the defense minister. One may not do anything, or one may carry out reforms. Anatoly Serdyukov was carrying them out," Medvedev said in an interview published in Kommersant.
Some of these reforms may have involved mistakes, "but I have no doubts that these reforms have been started," he said.
These reforms concerned both the armed forces and social wellbeing of servicemen, he said.
"I hope the new defense minister will continue this course," he said.