YELTSIN THANKS JAPAN FOR EARTHQUAKE AID.

Boris Yeltsin sent a message to Tokyo June 12, thanking the Japanese for their assistance in the aftermath of the May 27 earthquake on Sakhalin, Russian television reported June 12. Yeltsin had earlier rejected, and then accepted, such aid, infuriating the Japanese. As the cleanup continues, Russian officials have been unable to agree on a final count of the number of victims. ITA said on June 13 that 1,989 people had died in the quake; last week Interfax reported that the final toll was 1,841 and a local radio station said that 2,200 people had died.

A “Gloomy” Anniversary.