AN IMAGINARY MILITARY REFORM PLAN?

A Russian daily has questioned the existence of a military reform plan that defense minister Pavel Grachev announced April 16 would be launched following the June presidential election. (See Monitor, April 18) The newspaper queried the head of the Duma Defense Committee, a military committee headed by the Russian prime minister, and a number of top Defense Ministry leaders, and no one knew anything about the plan. The newspaper also asked why the plan would be announced after the election when it might win President Boris Yeltsin votes if made public prior to it. (Izvestiya, April 18)

Indian Aircraft Purchase Denied.