The Karabakh Defense Forces yesterday began military exercises, which will include the use of live ammunition. The exercises are designed to test the forces' response to possible "aggressive actions by the enemy," Karabakh's Defense Ministry announced. (Interfax, July 16) Russia and Italy to Sign Several... MORE

Italian foreign minister Lamberto Dini said yesterday that Rome and Moscow would probably sign a memorandum next week unblocking an Italian loan to Russia worth $260 million. The two sides are also reportedly near to concluding accords on currency control and military and technical cooperation.... MORE

Russia's military leadership kept up the drumbeat of criticism over arrears in state funding yesterday, saying in a message to the government that an extremely difficult financial situation has developed in the armed forces. A Defense Ministry representative provided no details, but said military leaders... MORE

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) announced yesterday that it is releasing a six-hour long CD ROM that tells the stirring 75-year history of Soviet and Russian foreign intelligence. The CD ROM will be released in Russian and English versions and sell for about $120.... MORE

A source close to Russian Security Council secretary Aleksandr Lebed said yesterday that the retired general had held talks with U.S. vice president Al Gore. The two reportedly discussed the political situation in Russia, nuclear security, and the battle against organized crime. No other details... MORE

Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov announced yesterday that Moscow would support a decision by African countries to nominate UN secretary-general Boutros Boutros-Ghali for a second 5-year term in office. (Itar-Tass, July 16) In June the Clinton administration had announced that it would oppose a second... MORE

Primakov also repeated Moscow's opposition to the Helms-Burton Act, a U.S. law that, under certain circumstances, penalizes companies from third countries doing business in Cuba. His remarks were amplified by a another foreign ministry official, who said yesterday that Moscow would take unspecified measures to... MORE

Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski said in a radio interview yesterday that it is "unclear who is in charge in the Kremlin." But Kwasniewski expressed the hope that Russian president Boris Yeltsin's problems are temporary and that he will soon take matters into his own hands.... MORE

Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze yesterday told the country on radio that the UN Security Council's July 12 resolution on Abkhazia opened the way toward a political settlement that would ensure Georgia's territorial integrity. Shevardnadze particularly noted the resolution's stipulations on the inviolability of Georgia's borders,... MORE

Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma yesterday told a senior staff meeting of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry that stable Ukrainian-Russian relations are a fundamental Ukrainian national interest and a cornerstone of international security. Kuchma asked the ministry to focus on finalizing the Ukrainian-Russian framework treaty and the terms... MORE