MINSK. Nov 2 (Interfax-AVN) - The Belarussian government disapproved of the proposals by the Defense Ministry to introduce military ranks of army general and senior colonel, a spokesman for the Belarussian Security Council told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
The spokesman said "the proposal does not seem to be a consistent one, taking into consideration the reduction of the armed forces now under way in the republic". The introduction of the new grades will call for changes in the whole establishment in the Belarussian army.
However, other proposals by the Defense Ministry have won the government's support. A decision to reduce the term of compulsory service in Belarussian armed forces to a year has already been taken, no changes in the legislation having been made though.