MINSK, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - Defense expenses of Belarus constitute 1.5 percent of its gross domestic product, or less than in many other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Belarussian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev told journalists on Thursday.
"Money arrives from the budget and extra-budgetary sources", he said.
Army reform is now under way, he recalled. "One of its goals is to bring the armed forces in correspondence with the economic capability of our state, which we have done. We are getting enough to meet our plans", he added.
Beginning in 2001, the Belarussian armed forces have been reduced by 38,500. Thus, in November 2001 over 200 army structures were disbanded and 58 new raised. Some of them perform new missions, Mr. Maltsev said.
In addition, since 2001 17 units have been relocated and 170 changed their organization and establishment.
