President to meet with PM and defence minister of planned changes in military

President Václav Klaus on Monday is to meet with the country’s prime minister, Jan Fischer, and the defence minister, Martin Barták, to discuss organisational changes planned in the military. The president revealed the information on his personal website but did not mention details. Last year, Mr Klaus stressed that the Czech Army should function primarily in defence of the state, calling foreign missions supplementary. Currently the army is facing a number of difficulties, among them the after effects of a scandal involving officers who displayed Nazi symbols. Other difficulties include cost-cutting measures, which forced the army last year to let go more than 2,700 people. Despite the cuts in spending, the military did sign a deal for 90 Iveco armoured vehicles for more than 3.6 billion crowns and four transport planes for 3.5 billion.