CIS INTEGRATION: NOT JUST FOR GOOD GUYS.

Political and business leaders from a majority of CIS states met yesterday in Saint Petersburg for a conference on Commonwealth economic reforms. Participants spoke in favor of accelerated reintegration for the ultimate purpose of establishing a "unified economic space." Such reintegration would encompass the areas of currencies, taxation, customs and banking regulations, as well as industry and business. (17) Meanwhile in Minsk, leading law enforcement officials from throughout the CIS began a three-day meeting to discuss better coordination of their activities. The participants are worried about what one called a "unified criminal space" over former Soviet territory. One trend which the CIS countries have in common is an increase in the rates of premeditated murder and drug use. (18)

1. Russian agencies, October 17; Reuter, October 18

2. Moskovsky komsomolets, October 17

3. Kontinent, no. 41, October 12-18

4. Izvestiya, October 17

5. Interfax, October 17

6. Moskovskie novosti, October 8; Izvestiya, October 14

7. Itar-Tass, NTV, October 16 and 17

8. Interfax, October 17

9. Interfax, October 17

10. Pravda, October 17

11. BNS, October 17

12. Interfax-Ukraine, October 17

13. Demokratychna Ukraina, September 28

14. Interfax, October 17

15. Interfax, October 17

16. International Petroleum Agency, October 17

17. ITAR-TASS, October 17

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