OREANDA-NEWS. March 05, 2010. The meeting summed up the results of the Defence Ministry’s work in 2009 and clarified its objectives for 2010.

In his remarks at the meeting, the President gave an assessment of work undertaken so far to develop Russia’s Armed Forces. Russia has now achieved its goal of establishing combat capable forces with the number of servicemen now standing at one million. Equipment is being modernised gradually throughout the Armed Forces. The Government has been set the task of increasing the rate at which arms and equipment are upgraded by 9-11 percent a year, which will bring the share of new arms and equipment in the Armed Forces to 70 percent by 2020. Work is also underway on providing the Armed Forces with automated control centres and information systems.  

Mr Medvedev said that priorities for the Defence Ministry include raising the prestige of serving in the Armed Forces, improving training, and ensuring better social support for veterans, servicemen and their families. The Defence Ministry also has a lot of work to prepare for the upcoming celebrations of the 65th anniversary of victory over Nazism. 

The President said that he plans to attend the main events at the Vostok-2010 strategic military exercises.

On the subject of Russia’s defence policy, Mr Medvedev said that Russia has no need to increase its nuclear deterrent capability, yet the possession of nuclear weapons remains a determining condition for Russia to be able to pursue independent policies aimed at maintaining peace and preventing military conflicts.

The President also noted that talks with the USA are now very close to reaching agreement on a new START treaty. Full-scale contacts with NATO have also resumed.

During a break in the meeting Dmitry Medvedev met with military district and naval fleet commanders. Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Nikolai Makarov also took part in the meeting.