New Czech defence minister, Mr Jaroslav Tvrdik, is to draw up a plan to abolish compulsory national service and turn the Czech army into a fully professional force, the news agency CTK said today.
Mr Tvrdik was appointed today, replacing Mr Vladimir Vetchy who was fired yesterday amid a growing funding crisis in the armed forces.
CTK said Premier Mr Milos Zeman had told Mr Tvrdik to prepare within three months a plan to end conscription in the next few years.
The government can take this step only after there has been an economic revival, CTK quoted Mr Zeman as saying. He added that in the long run, a fully professional armed force was the only reasonable solution for a truly combat-ready army .
The Czech army has struggled to meet NATO standards since joining the alliance two years ago. It has suffered from lack of funding for training and upgrading systems and weaponry.
Mr Tvrdik, who became deputy minister earlier this year, has already overhauled the defence ministry's acquisition office. He has said that poor economic management and unfavourable contracts have cost the army several billion crowns (hundreds of millions of pounds).
The Czech army has 53,500 staff, of which 22,600 are conscripts. Every Czech man has to do one year's military service or 18 months' civilian social service after completing his education.