MOSCOW, October 10 (AVN) - The Russian General Staff is planning to complete preliminary calculations on the Armed Forces reduction plan by October 20, Colonel-General Valery Manilov, first deputy chief-of-staff, said on Tuesday.
The calculations are based on parameters that are not finally approved by President Vladimir Putin, who is the commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces, Manilov told the Military News Agency. They envisage laying off 180,000 people from the Land Forces, over 50,000 people from the Navy and 40,000 people from the Air Force by 2003, he said.
Under this plan, the Strategic Missile Forces should be transformed into a military branch by 2002 and included into the Air Force by 2006. By that date, their strength is to be reduced by 10 divisions.
Large-scale restructuring will also concern the Defence Ministry and the General Staff, as well as rear services, including military medicine, Manilov said. According to some sources, over 400 posts currently occupied by generals will be abolished.
The General Staff will insist on "holding an adequate reduction of other Russian law-enforcement agencies - the Federal Security Service, the Federal Border Guard Service, the Interior Ministry and its troops," Manilov stressed. However he admitted that "it will be very difficult to achieve as each agency is already demanding a fairer share of cake."