MOSCOW. July 29 (Interfax-AVN) - While meeting with top government officials on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "if the current version of the budget is passed by the parliament, then the targets for the military can be met."
Putin also said that on July 27, he and economy-related ministers discussed an extensive range of financial issues concerning the state's military strategy, including both the armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
"Judging by the figures that were discussed on Saturday, we will be able to resolve the problems related to reforming the armed forces, paying social obligations to servicemen and increasing monetary allowances based on positions. We will also be able to increase monetary allowances based on rank starting on January 1. This will also fully concern those agencies which are considered equal to the armed forces," the president said.
Putin also pointed out that the draft for next year's budget will be officially submitted to the government on August 8 and the cabinet members and Duma deputies should start actively working on it in the fall.
Putin then dwelled on the budget's social aspects for this year and for next year. "In this respect, my first question is this: when will we finally solve problems concerning the arrears of wages, and primarily payments due to wages and vacation pay to teachers," he said.
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin assured the president that the government will be able to repay all arrears and complete payments due to teachers before September 1.