Six-year rejuvenation plan to beef up one-third of armed forces to NATO level

A newly approved six-year plan to rejuvenate Poland's armed forces, bringing a third of military personnel up to NATO standards by 2006, was detailed yesterday by Minister of Defense Bronislaw Komorowski. The announcement came on the heels of comments last week by the alliance's top general in Europe, Joseph Ralston, who urged Poland to allocate more funds to modernize its army still burdened with Soviet-era equipment. The plan will save $1.45 billion by the end of 2006 through a 25% cut in staff, sales of assets, privatization and other measures. "It is the first restructuring plan for the army based on real sources of income and not on projected inflows," Komorowski said. "We will close some bases, sell assets and privatize some support units." Spending per soldier per year will almost double, increasing from $17,000 at present to roughly $30,000." Half of personnel will be career soldiers rather than conscripts. (Reuters)