Mr Putin and General Kvashnin discussed preparations for the forthcoming large-scale exercise of the Pacific Fleet scheduled for August 18. The exercise will involve over 50 ships and motor boats, 35 supply vessels, 50 aircraft and helicopters, and up to 30,000 servicemen and civilian specialists.
General Kvashnin said his office was considering which countries would be invited to the exercise as observers and which would directly participate in it. The United States, China, South and North Korea, Canada and Japan were invited to the exercise.
General Kvashnin told Mr Putin that a number of military districts had conducted inspections of combat and mobilisation readiness, as well as personnel, weapons and military equipment evaluations. The inspections were held in the Pacific Fleet, and the Volga-Urals and Siberian military districts.
He told the President about the plans for financing housing construction for servicemen in 2004.