RUSSIA APPLIES TO JOIN OECD.

Russia made an official application yesterday to become a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the "rich man’s club" embracing 27 industrialized countries. So far, the Czech Republic and Hungary are the only former Communist countries accepted as members, though Russia signed a cooperation agreement with the OECD two years ago. While Russia is far from meeting all the OECD membership criteria, acceptance of its application would be a further sign of Western support for Yeltsin’s economic reforms. (BBC World Service, May 21; Financial Times, May 22)

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