MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has neither denied nor confirmed reports that Osama bin Laden may be hiding in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge.
"I've never said that bin Laden is there. Nor am I saying so now," Ivanov told RTR Television on Wednesday. Numerous militants and terrorists are hiding in the Pankisi Gorge and Osama bin Laden's presence there cannot be ruled out, he said.
Moscow is "very much concerned" by the situation in the gorge. "It is up to the sovereign government of Georgia to resolve the situation, but it must be done promptly and efficiently. This mini-Afghanistan is located on Russia's doorstep," he said.
Ivanov backed the idea of legalizing alternative military service. It must be allowed and "the sooner, the better," he said.
"We are fully satisfied" with the bill on alternative service that the government has drawn up, he said.
A plan for making a transition to a professional army will be drafted in the near future. "In four to six weeks, we will submit to the president a plan for switching to a contract basis," he said.
However, Russia's economic capability must be taken into consideration, he said.
When asked about the development of the army, Ivanov prioritized the Space Troops. "We plan to launch a group of satellites for communication and intelligence purposes," he said.
The Defense Ministry will channel considerable allocations to the Navy, he said.
The ministry does not plan on making any sizable purchases of warplanes or helicopters over the next few years, he said.
"We can only consider repairs and upgrades of aircraft," he said.