French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday reaffirmed the reforms of the French army and announced a staff reduction of the Defense Ministry.
The next military reform program (LPM) which is to be drawn up in Spring should be "absolutely and completely financed," Sarkozy announced in his speech to the armed forces and the former combatants in the Presidential Palace the Eylsee.
The first LPM (1997-2002) had been initiated by the then French President Jacques Chirac in 1996 to frame the army reform and to professionalize the staffs.
The second LPM (2003-2008) redefined France's orientation in the fields of defense and security, emphasizing on its role of making European defense policy.
"We should make the choice. I had been elected for that. I will do that," he said.
The French head of state reaffirmed that his objective was to maintain 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product for the defense.
This objective will be accompanied with a staff reduction for the defense ministry, like for all the other ministries, according to Sarkozy.
Source:Xinhua
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