MOSCOW. Oct 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian government has introduced changes to the unified system of military trade, taking into account experience gained in the first years of the system's existence, Colonel Viktor Podobed, acting head of the Defence Ministry's main trade department, said on Friday.
The transition to a single system of logistics support started with establishment of a single military trade system, Podobed told Interfax-Military News Agency. The system's reform has been in progress for four years and a series of important goals have been achieved, he said.
Reformers have set up and are developing 13 federal state-owned enterprises in military districts and at fleets, which comprised 180 state-owned unitary enterprises. The military trade entities that have not made part of the system due to various reasons are being disbanded. A part of them is transferred to municipal authorities, another part is privatised and the rest will be auctioned off.
The government resolution adopted on Thursday reads that the unified military trade system will also service federal state guard bodies and what is referred to as "the federal body backing mobilisation preparation at governing bodies of the country," Podobed stressed. Besides, military units and organisations located in the Extreme North and territories equal in status, as well as in zones of peacekeeping and anti-guerrilla operations, are to provide transport and necessary equipment to military trade bodies free of charge. The units and organisations are also ordered to repair and guard the enterprises. A similar order will be valid in exercise and war games areas.
The resolution "Concerning Establishment of the Unified Military Trade System" was passed in July 1998. The new resolution takes into account some issues that were not covered by the original document, as well as proposals submitted by law-enforcers summing up experience gained in the first three years of the system's existence.