RUSSIA RATIFIES CHEMICAL WEAPONS BAN.

Russia’s Federal Assembly yesterday unanimously approved ratification of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention. President Yeltsin then signed the bill, completing the ratification process. U.S. president Bill Clinton issued a statement warmly welcoming the Russian action. There is a 30-day waiting period before the convention enters into force, so Russia will be able to participate in the final session of the December conference of the convention’s governing body. (Russian media, White House press release, November 5)

Russian Minister Says Crime Rate Is Falling.