WORLD : Hungary to Slash Armed Forces
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BUDAPEST, Hungary — Premier Miklos Nemeth said today that Hungary will slash its armed forces by up to a quarter in the next two years, scrapping many offensive weapons and regrouping them away from its western frontier.
He also announced a shake-up in defense command, replacing the army chief of staff and dismissing three deputy ministers.
Addressing army commanders and top Defense Ministry officials, Nemeth said the unilateral move on force levels was designed to promote success at Vienna talks on conventional forces in Europe, the state news agency MTI reported.
The projected cuts in both hardware and personnel are on top of a reduction announced last January of about 9% sought by the end of 1990.
Lt. Gen. Laszlo Borsits replaces Col. Gen. Jozsef Pacsek as army chief of staff.
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