MOSCOW. May 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The reform program proposed by the Defense Ministry is different from alternative programs in taking into account both interests of servicemen and the necessity to update the army and navy, Lieutenant General Viktor Storonin, head of the ministry's military economic analysis and expert examinations department, told Ekho Moskvy radio on Thursday.
"For instance, the program proposed by the Union of Right- wing Forces and Transitional Economy Institute is aimed at spending most of the allocations for military reform on increasing professional servicemen's salaries and improving their social situation," Storonin said.
"This will result in professional servicemen being too expensive for the state and will not leave funds for improving the quality of the troops," he said.
"The Defense Ministry is sure that in a situation when minimal monthly wages of a professional serviceman amount to RUB5,000-6,000 (USD162.4-194.9), we are able to stimulate the manning of the troops with professional privates and sergeants, conduct rearmament, and train personnel in accordance with up-to- date requirements. Of course, specialists will have to be paid more," Storonin said.
"The state does not have unlimited funds, and we must proceed from present-day realities," the general stressed.