Sofia, 19 June 1997 (RFE/RL) - Bulgaria's new military chief of staff today announced plans to turn the country's army from a conscript into a professional one and to reduce its personnel by 10 percent.
The state news agency BTA says Col. Gen. Miho Mihov told reporters that Bulgaria would start offering three-year contracts for professional soldiers as of September 1. For the time being the army will remain a mix of professional soldiers and conscripts, serving 12 to 18 months.
Mihov also announced a 10-percent cut in the 100,000-strong army. He pledged to streamline the army's command bodies and to crack down on alleged corruption.
Observers say the army has been hard-hit by Bulgaria's severe economic crisis, from which the country is now struggling to emerge.
The state news agency BTA says Col. Gen. Miho Mihov told reporters that Bulgaria would start offering three-year contracts for professional soldiers as of September 1. For the time being the army will remain a mix of professional soldiers and conscripts, serving 12 to 18 months.
Mihov also announced a 10-percent cut in the 100,000-strong army. He pledged to streamline the army's command bodies and to crack down on alleged corruption.
Observers say the army has been hard-hit by Bulgaria's severe economic crisis, from which the country is now struggling to emerge.