NO QUICK RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY.

Duma speaker Gennady Seleznev indicated yesterday that the Russian parliament is unlikely to ratify the START II arms control treaty until at least early next year. According to Seleznev, deputies will continue work on the treaty during the current session, but will probably not complete their review until parliament’s next session next spring. The U.S. Senate ratified the treaty in January of 1996, but Russian lawmakers have repeatedly delayed any vote on ratification. (AP, December 4)

Lithuania Substantially Increases Military Budget.