Ukrainian first deputy foreign minister Borys Tarasyuk criticized Russian president Boris Yeltsin's call, published last week, to unify CIS countries' foreign and defense policy. Tarasyuk told a news conference that "any international grouping can only develop with the consent of its own members," and that... MORE

NATO has agreed on a compromise proposal aimed at resolving disagreements over CFE flank limits in the Caucasus, which Russia feels do not reflect post-Cold War realities. This proposal will be discussed in meetings to be held today in Annapolis between US and Russian officials.... MORE

Trade data for the first half of 1995, just released by the CIS Statistics Committee, show a continuing decline in the reciprocal trade among CIS member countries. Compared to the same period in 1994, reciprocal imports decreased by 6% while imports from non-CIS countries increased... MORE

By a decree issued September 15, Kazakhstan's president Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered the start of preparations for moving the country's capital from Almaty to Akmola. The decree also creates a special state commission to supervise the transfer of government institutions to the new capital. The president... MORE

In Tbilisi on September 15, Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and Georgian head of state Eduard Shevardnadze signed a treaty giving Russia long-term use of military bases in Vaziani, Akhalkalaki, and Batumi. In a joint statement, the sides agreed to seek a political settlement in... MORE

The commander of the Russian-controlled Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Eduard Baltin, now describes the Russian leadership's and Boris Yeltsin's personal position on the fleet's problems as "firmer and firmer." His officers are equally pleased, Baltin said, without detailing Moscow's new positions. (15) Until now, Baltin... MORE

In a September 15 statement, Ukraine's foreign ministry welcomed the Bosnian Serbs' agreement to withdraw heavy guns from around Sarajevo and the suspension of NATO actions. The statement repeated Ukraine's readiness to participate in efforts toward a negotiated settlement in the framework of the Contact... MORE

Two Russian soldiers were killed in the explosion of a munitions depot in Grozny September 16. Thirteen Russian soldiers were wounded by resistance attacks elsewhere in Chechnya. Following the Grozny explosion, Russian aviation bombed several villages, killing three civilians and wounding several dozen, according to... MORE

The leader of the reformist Yabloko party, Grigory Yavlinsky, announced that he has agreed in principle that candidates from his list will form an election coalition with Yegor Gaidar's party "Russia's Democratic Choice" in single-mandate districts. Explaining the reasons for his decision, Yavlinsky said that... MORE

According to Russian defense