Poland to create a professional army

WARSAW, Oct 27 (Reuters) Poland is planning to phase out compulsory military conscription and create a professional army, a spokesman for the General Staff said today.

A member of NATO and central Europe's biggest country, Poland has 150,000 soldiers in its armed forces, including 2,200 in international peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Bosnia, Kosovo and Lebanon.

''The concept agreed between the Ministry of Defence and the president envisages Poland retaining its 150,000 troops, but the core of the army will be 120,000 professionals,'' said Lieutenant-Colonel Krzysztof Laszkiewicz.

''The army will also include 30,000 (temporary) contract soldiers,'' he said.

President Lech Kaczynski is expected to announce the changes later today during a meeting with soldiers in the city of Kielce.

At present, some 80,000 young Polish men spend nine months each year in obligatory military service. The rest of the army are professionals.

Military experts say Poland needs a fully professional army in order handle complex missions abroad.

Parliament must approve the changes, which look likely to pass, before they take effect. The main opposition party, the Civic Platform, has signalled it may vote for them.

REUTERS PDM BS1741