General Staff Decides To Shorten Military Service

ANKARA - The General Staff decided on Sunday to shorten military service as of July 15, 2003 under its plan to reconstruct the Turkish Armed Forces.
Releasing a statement, the General Staff stated that it was decided to decrease 18-month military service of privates to 15 months, 16-month military service of reserve officers to 12 months and 8-month of short-term military service to 6 months.
The statement noted, ''it was also decided to convey a proposal to the government that it would be convenient to decrease number of soldiers by 17 percent. The decision will take effect as of July 15, 2003.''
ERDOGAN: ''WE WILL ASSESS PROPOSAL OF GENERAL STAFF TOMORROW''
Responding a question about General Staff's decision to shorten military service, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we will assess proposal of the General Staff tomorrow. Following meeting of the Council of Ministers, we will make a statement.''
(UK-MS) 22.06.2003