Defense Ministry closing 70 garrisons while localities fear economic losses

By the end of this month Defense Ministry (MON) will publish a list of over 70 garrisons--one-seventh of their total number--slated for liquidation. At the same time petitions protesting the closings are being sent to Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek and Defense Minister Bronislaw Komorowski from deputies, senators, and the towns hosting the garrisons.⌠We provide the army with bakery products everyday; our bakers and the driver will lose their jobs,■ complains Jozef Doman from a local store in Gubin. Garrison reduction is part of a 6-year plan for army reform which envisages a reduction from 190,000 to 150,000 soldiers. MON hopes that the reduction coupled with the sale of redundant infrastructure will result in saving around zl.6 billion for the purchase of modern equipment. Komorowski looked on the bright side, claiming that garrison liquidation will leave towns with empty areas which can be used for future investment. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.3) A.Z.