FEDERATION COUNCIL DENOUNCES RUSSIA’S LOSS OF "FOOD SECURITY."

In July 4 debates, members of the parliament’s upper housebemoaned the fact that over the last decade Russia has fallenfrom seventh to 36th place in the world in being able to feedits people, Segodnya reported July 5. One-third of Russia’scitizens are now malnourished, and half of them–75 million–willbe if this year’s harvest is as poor as expected. But the Councilfailed to pass a resolution blaming the government for this disaster.The same day, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin announced thathe would send disaster relief to drought-stricken regions throughoutthe country.

Duma Sends Constitutional Amendments to Regions.