MOSCOW WANTS REGIONS TO SHOULDER GREATER WELFARE BURDEN.

DeputyPremier Yuri Yarov said on Russian television June 27 that Russia’sregions must play a bigger role in providing welfare support forthe population. He did not say where they would get the money.In other remarks, Yarov said that Moscow would soon raise theminimum wage and increase pensions, two steps that will make iteven more difficult for the Russian government to meet its budgetcommitments to the IMF and World Bank.

Gromov, Staff Not Being Paid.