Army Chief Rejects Proposed Cuts

German Defense Minister Peter Struck has rejected proposed cuts in the defense budget in the coming year. According to a report in the magazine Der Spiegel, Finance Minister Hans Eichel is planning to reduce Struck's budget in 2005 by 250 million euros ($310 million). A spokesperson for Eichel refused to comment on cabinet discussions about the 2005 budget plans, but referred to expected lower budgetary spending overall in 2005. For his part, Struck warned that further budget cuts could ruin current plans for military reforms.