A REGNUM News Agency correspondent reported these figures, which were announced at the conference of the enlistment commission, chaired by Vice-Governor Anna Markova.
According to the Saint Petersburg military officer S.Verevkin, the results of the last year enlistment are as follows: 26 thousand 829 conscripts were called to enlistment offices and only 2 thousand 496 young men went to the army. 4.1% conscripts did not even show up. Most of them live in the Moskovsky, Viborgsky and Kirovsky districts.
It should also be mentioned the conscription was held according to the new legislation. There are 22 offices allowing postponement. In particular, every fourth citizen did not go to army due to unsatisfactory health condition. Around 30 thousand conscripts are expected to come during the spring conscription. Specialists will have to work hard to announce the final decision on each conscript.
According to Anna Markova, to change the public opinion on the army it is necessary to change the public ideology. Nowadays there are many organizations who disgrace the service in the army. In particular, it is the so called `committees of soldiers` mothers`. They disgrace those whose profession is to protect the Motherland.
Conference participants agreed to approve the decision to create a program aimed at patriotic education.
www.regnum.ru
04/12/2003
