Armed forces is a guarantee of Russia's peaceful future – Medvedev

23.02.2011 Russian Armed Forces is a guarantee of the country's peaceful future, said Tuesday Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.

"Our armed forces should be worthy, otherwise we can be victims of different tragic events like it sometimes happened in Russian history", said Medvedev appearing at the solemn meeting related with coming Motherland Defenders' Day.

According to the president, "that is why we must do whatever possible to maintain our Army and Navy at adequate level".

"Despite the fact that recent years were quite difficult, we've managed to preserve protected expenditure. To me, this is very important for the future of our armed forces", pointed out Medvedev.

According to the president, "in the nearest future Russian armed forces will steadily develop; required financing of two topmost areas. First is improvement of the armed forces under reformation program, acquiring new types of weapons and equipment. The second is social status of military servicemen".

"It is very good that since Jan 1, 2012 money allowance system becomes radically different", said the president.

As for him, "the experiment being held in recent years involving best officers in the Army and Navy will extend to every serviceman".

"I'm sure that the government's attention to armed forces will be rewarded. The world remains very uncertain. We have to deal with internal problems. Threat of terrorism still exists worldwide. Unfortunately, this problem is topical for us", Medvedev said.

In this conditions Russia "needs stable internal political situation", he said. "After all, it depends on how military servicemen feel", concluded Medvedev.

The president pointed out that recently "overall environment in the armed forces started to change".

"Our country had overcome difficult years; that obviously had an impact on our economy and the armed forces. However, we have managed to make an array of very important decisions. They are all about new image of Russian armed forces, their development trends, social status of servicemen, and the role of Russian Armed Forces in the country".

The president congratulated all those who serve in the military, veterans, civil employees, and relatives of servicemen on the Motherland Defenders' Day.

Also, Medvedev addressed to youth.

"I would like to address to young officers and those who are going to join the military. I'm sure that if you choose military service or continue to serve, you will not only help your country but become patriots really loving their Motherland", said the president having thanked everybody for excellent service.