MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the main provisions of a federal program aimed at staffing some units of the Defense Ministry and other defense and security agencies with contract servicemen, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told reporters after meeting with the president and top Defense Ministry officials on Wednesday. The program will be approved by June 1 in order to include it in the 2004 budget, Ivanov said. One of the main features of this program is that priority units capable of fulfilling military tasks in the event of a military conflict will receive priority in the recruitment of contract servicemen. Ivanov also said a decision has been made to increase military pay to contract servicemen serving in the 76th division of the Airborne Troops. "In accordance with this decision, beginning March 1 a contract serviceman will receive a monthly salary of RUB5,280 (USD168.2), a commander of a unit RUB6,046 (USD192.6) and a commander of a company RUB8,700 (USD277.17). I believe this is an acceptable amount for servicemen of all categories. It will make it possible to draw good people for serving on a contract basis in the 76th division," Ivanov said. The president has been informed of the Defense Ministry's intention to recruit not only Russian citizens, but also citizens of the CIS for contract service. Anatoly Kvashnin, chief-of-staff of the Russian Armed Forces, told reporters after meeting with the president that "the number of servicemen who will serve under contract has been determined." They will number up to 170,000, including 130,000 in the Russian Armed Forces, he said.