MOSCOW DIRECT AID TO ABKHAZIA TO INCREASE DESPITE GEORGIANPROTESTS.

A Russian governmental commission empowered to ascertainAbkhazia’s relief needs announced July 10 that it would recommendgiving Abkhazia 90 billion rubles in aid, rather than the 10 billionalready earmarked. The announcement ignores Georgian presidentEduard Shevardnadze`s continuing protests against direct Russian-Abkhazdealings bypassing Tbilisi. Moreover, the commission’s statementas reported on Russian TV July 10 referred to the `Abkhaz government`and the `Abkhaz-Russian border`–formulations the Georgian governmentwill certainly consider to be encouraging Abkhaz separatism. Meanwhilein Tbilisi, Russian Federation Council chairman Vladimir Shumeikoignored Shevardnadze’s remarks about Abkhazia, but did concedethat Russia supports a strong and united Georgian state.

Election Results Remain in Dispute in Armenia.