Latest Monitor Articles

MOSCOW, KABUL JOINING FORCES AGAINST TAJIK RESISTANCE ?

Russian border troops near Horog, center of Tajikistan's Badakhshan region, reported this morning that rival Afghan detachments clashed as one supported and another opposed an attempt by Tajik insurgents to cross from Afghanistan into Tajikistan. Yesterday the first deputy head of Russia's border service, Col.... MORE

MOSCOW AND PYONGYANG TO NEGOTIATE NEW TREATY.

Both sides have now submitted drafts, and talks are scheduled to begin shortly on a new treaty setting out relations between Russia and North Korea, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated yesterday. The document will replace the 1961 Soviet-North Korean Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual... MORE

RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT LINKS IRAQ ATTACKS TO NATO.

A Russian diplomat says the recent U.S. attacks on Iraq are not only likely to exacerbate tensions in the Middle East, but could also complicate Russia's willingness to enter into a consultative relationship with NATO. The diplomat questioned the efficacy of close relations with NATO... MORE

YELTSIN TRANSFERS SOME POWERS TO CHERNOMYRDIN.

Russian president Boris Yeltsin has transferred some of his presidential powers to Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin while he is away from Moscow preparing to undergo heart surgery. Yeltsin stopped short of transferring all his powers, but instructed the "power ministries" (defense, security, interior and foreign... MORE

LEBED GRABS BLACK SEA FLEET ISSUE.

Aleksandr Lebed announced yesterday that his Security Council will henceforth control Russian policy on the Black Sea Fleet and Crimea. The policy and negotiations with Ukraine have until now been supervised largely by Lebed's rival, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, from whom Lebed also took control... MORE

SPORADIC FIGHTING REPORTED FROM MAINLY CALM CHECHNYA.

Sporadic fighting continues in Chechnya, despite the ceasefire. One Russian serviceman was killed Monday when rebels attacked his unit in the village of Chervlyonnaya-Uzlovaya. (Interfax quoted by AP, September 10) (See Perspective item below.) Moscow Invited Back to Kabul.

FIGHTING FLARES UP ACROSS TAJIKISTAN IN RUNUP TO OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY.

During the last few days the Tajik opposition attacked government forces in the north and the south of the country's bottleneck-shaped middle section, apparently aiming to cut it in a pincer move. In the north of that section, an estimated 300 opposition fighters under field... MORE

SOUTH OSSETIA TO CREATE ITS OWN PRESIDENCY.

The Supreme Soviet of South Ossetia, chaired by Lyudvig Chibirov, resolved September 6 to create a South Ossetian presidency and introduce presidential rule. The assembly tentatively scheduled a session for September 13 to make these changes in the South Ossetian "constitution." On September 7 in... MORE

UZBEK OPPOSITION LEADER, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP RESUME ACTIVITIES.

The Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan reconstituted itself at a congress held in Tashkent over the weekend under the chairmanship of Abdulmanop Pulatov, who returned to the country last month from the USA. The society adopted a new program and bylaws preparatory to applying for... MORE

LEBED ASSAILS U.S. FOR ATTACKS ON IRAQ.

Although allowing that Iraqi forces may have "deserved" the two U.S. air strikes launched recently against them, Russian security council secretary Aleksandr Lebed condemned on September 6 the U.S. actions as a violation of international norms. In an interview with the French news agency AFP,... MORE