KRASNOYARSK, February 27th, 2004 (RIA Novosti correspondent) - By 2007, the problem of contract service will be solved, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"By late 2007, this problem will be mostly solved, and we will reduce conscript service to one year," the Russian president said at his meeting with Krasnoyarsk students.
In his words, this will chiefly be a professional army, but not quite, because such a country as Russia cannot afford an entire army. "It will be a very expensive army," said the head of state.
According to Putin, by late 2007 this problem will be solved in regard to those who have to serve in hot spots, and also those who need highly qualified personnel.
