Buzek promises fighter jet decision by June 2001 at military conference

At the annual conference of military and government authorities with the President, Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek pledged that the government will make a decision on leasing multi-purpose fighter jets for the Polish army by June 2001. Buzek also said a new bill on financing military modernization should be introduced. Chief of General Staff Czeslaw Piatas delivered a report in which he admitted that NATO is demanding significant acceleration of changes in the Polish army. He said that one third of the army will achieve full compatibility with NATO forces by the end of 2006. Defense Minister Bronislaw Komorowski said the military is ready to undergo deep restructuring, saving approximately zl.6 billion within the next 6 years. (Rzeczpospolita, A1) P.J.