BULGARIAN MINISTER IN MOSCOW.

Bulgarian foreign minister Nadezhda Mikhailova wound up two days of talks in Moscow on December 2 during which the two sides sought to defuse tensions over Sofia’s increasingly pro-Western orientation and, in particular, its aspirations to join NATO. (See Monitor, October 9) Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov denied the existence of any "antagonisms" in relations between the two countries, but admitted they disagreed over NATO enlargement. Mikhailova’s visit was aimed in part at preparing for a visit to Moscow later this month by Bulgarian president Petar Stoyanov. (Itar-Tass, December 1-2)

Israel Complains Anew of Russian-Iranian Missile Cooperation.