SENIOR NATO OFFICIAL PREDICTS EVENTUAL BALTIC ACCESSION.

A leading Moscow daily cites Christopher Donnelly, special assistant to the NATO secretary-general, as saying in an interview that the alliance has "already decided in principle that it should admit Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania." Russian opposition will not block that process because "the Baltic states are eager to join the alliance as full members, and NATO may not artificially prevent them. The alliance is open to all who want to join it." (Nezavisimaya gazeta, October 25)

Russian Prime Minister to Play Larger Role in Chechen Peace Process.