The meeting discussed economic, organisational and regulatory issues pertaining to military construction in Russia.
Mr Putin stressed the importance of military reform, saying that as a result Russia would get a more compact and, thus, more efficient and professional army. Maintaining a cumbersome and sometimes inefficient military organisation is absolutely wrong, the President said.
As a follow-up, a resolution to reform the state military structure was adopted, envisaging in particular a 600,000-person cut in paramilitary staff in 11 ministries and agencies outside the Russian Defence Ministry.
The President instructed Security Council Secretary Sergei Ivanov to supervise the implementation of the resolution.
See also
Introductory Remarks at a Meeting of the Security Council
November 9, 2000