YELTSIN AND MASKHADOV TO MEET SOON IN MOSCOW.

Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov convened a meeting of his Presidential Council yesterday to get its approval of a draft peace settlement which he is expected to take soon to Moscow and present to Russian president Boris Yeltsin. First Deputy Premier Movladi Udugov said that some items in the Chechen draft differ radically from that prepared by Moscow, and that the joint commission which is supposed to negotiate a compromise document has failed to agree upon a common text. "Now it is time for the presidents to decide," Udugov said. (Itar-Tass, May 7) He and Russian Security Council secretary Ivan Rybkin agreed yesterday to establish a "hot line" between Moscow and Djohar-gala "in order to avoid unforeseen situations." (Interfax, May 7)

Meanwhile, Russian interior minister Anatoly Kulikov continues to have his own opinion of the Chechen peace process. His position is that the Chechen side must provide written assurances to renounce violence and terrorism and to condemn such actions. (Interfax, May 6) Kulikov continues to take the toughest stance of all top Russian politicians on future relations between Moscow and Djohar-gala.

Russian Anti-Terrorism Commission Meets.