P106 ORACLE 106 Tue 1 Oct ITV 2147:27
                                
  SOVIET ARMED FORCES           
  SET TO BE HALVED              
                                        
 The Soviet military has unveiled plans 
 to cut its armed forces of four million
 bz almost a half bz 1994, according to 
 the independent news agency Interfax.  
                                        
 First Deputy Defence Minister Pavel    
 Grachev told the Russian Parliament the
 military would become an all-volunteer 
 professional force from next January.  
                                        
 He said a top priority should be       
 creating a unified Soviet command with 
 control over nuclear weapons.          
                                        
 Mr Grachev also criticised moves bz    
 some breakaway Soviet republics to set 
 up their own armed forces.             
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