Home | China | World | Business Belarus to Create New Army: Defense Minister MON, FEB 25, 2002     Belarus is creating a new army in the course of its reforms, which will meet realities and challenges of the 21st century, Belarussian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev said Sunday in Minsk. He said in an interview with national television that the government had approved new national security and military building concepts and a new military doctrine for the years to 2010. "We have rebuilt the system of control of the armed forces, having divided functions of the defense ministry and the General Staff," Maltsev said. "Two arms of service have been created, whose command is accomplished by the chief staff of ground troops and the chief staff of a unified type of troops, the air force and the air defense," the minister said. He said the Belarussian army's strength will be 65,000 by 2005,as against the present 85,000. Maltsev said one of key tasks of the military reform is to resolve social problems of army servicemen and to enhance their status. As for the prospect of a professional army, Maltsev said that in the "present-day conditions our state is unable to resolve the issue of creating a professional army" as the task would require huge finance. For this reason, the country so far does not abandon active military service, he said. However, the defense ministry has proposed to the government shortening the term of service, he added. Editor:Zhong Source:Xinhua Recommend to your friend email:    China Central Television,All Rights Reserved