MOSCOW. June 10 (Interfax-AVN) - A certain rise in the social status of the Russian Armed Forces personnel is unstable, a high-ranking official of the Defense Ministry told Interfax- Military News Agency Tuesday.
"In 2002 the monthly salaries of servicepersons were actually risen by RUB640 (USD22), and of that sum RUB573 (USD19) has been eaten up by inflation," the general said.
"The Armed Forces are assigned complicated and important tasks. The problems of welfare are of prime significance, and the salaries are the most dramatic issue. The rise of last year is unstable. Critical measures are to be taken to raise the welfare of the personnel," he also said.
He also said that "low salaries are the main cause of retirement of young officers."
"According to social polls, hardships of the military service are rated only sixth," he added.
"To raise the salaries of the military personnel, the Defense Ministry has developed a joint program together with the Finance and Employment Ministries and other authorities concerned, aimed at rising the material welfare of military servicepersons and retirees and of their families. This program has to be implemented in 2004-2007," he emphasized.
The concept of the program, he went on, is based on the decisions of the Security Council of Russia of May 11, 2001, and on a decision of the governmental commission of March 5, 2003.
He said that the core objective of the program was to raise the welfare of servicepersons within the next five years.
"First, there will be a rational mechanism of solving most urgent problems. Second, the legal basis for the welfare of the military will be worked out. Third, accommodation, medical service, and other benefits will be implemented," the source said.
He said he hoped that the legislative and the executive powers would together solve the current problems.