INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OPENS IN THE HAGUE.

An international conference — entitled "The Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria: Restoration of Relations" — opened this morning in The Hague. The conference, which is organized within the framework of the "Hague initiative," is being attended by the presidents of Tatarstan and Ingushetia, the deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, Boris Berezovsky, and other leading Russian officials. (Itar-Tass, May 23) The majority of the members of the Chechen delegation were prevented by passport problems from attending the opening session. (See Perspective item below)

Japanese Minister in Moscow.