During an August 25-26visit to Bishkek, Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto discussedwith Kyrgyz officials the possibility of constructing an internationalhighway from Kyrgyzstan through Chinese territory to Pakistan,Russian radio reported. She also signed agreements on the deliveryof Kyrgyz-produced hydropower to Pakistan via China, the mutualprotection of... MORE

As theyhave in the past, Azerbaijani officials this weekend said thatBaku would be willing to cooperate with the CIS, and hence, Moscow,only to the extent that Moscow would back Azerbaijan's demandfor the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azeri territory, Russianradio reported August 26. But the... MORE

Armenia, which is proud of its economic growth over the past year,(the only CIS nation to have a positive figure by that measure)nonetheless must confront an increasingly unhappy population,Russian radio reported August 27. The standard of living in Armeniais now 4.5 times lower than it... MORE

In approving thenew constitution, the Georgian parliament set simultaneous parliamentaryand presidential elections there for November 5, Russian radioreported August 25. Moscow Radio Notes Falling Standard of Living in Armenia.

Ukrainian defenseminister Valerii Shmariv met with Pakistani officials in IslamabadAugust 22-25 to discuss the possible sale of Ukrainian militaryequipment to Pakistan, Ukrinform reported. While no deals weresigned, Shmariv said that he believed Pakistan would become Ukraine'sfoothold in the vast Asian arms market. Ukrainian prime ministerEvhen... MORE

Moldovanpresident Mircea Snegur was elected chairman of the new Partyof Rebirth and Conciliation August 26, Flux and Basapress reported.In his speech, Snegur accused the governing Agrarian DemocraticParty, with which he had been associated for four years, of beinganti-people, anti-presidential, and pro-Soviet. He called forchanging the... MORE

Belarus' old parliamentwill meet September 5 to discuss a variety of issues even thoughits authority has lapsed, Kommersant- Daily reported August26. Elections to fill the 141 of the parliament's 260 seats willbe held later this year. Minsk Factory Pays With Promissory Notes.

Minsk's Signalfactory now gives its workers promissory notes rather than cashon pay days, Moscow's Echo radio reported August 27. All 2000employees get them but they can't use them. The cash crunch therehas lasted five months, the station said. Ukraine to Have Good Grain Harvest.

Ukraine will harvestthree million tons more grain this year than last and thus willbe able to feed its own people as well as increase exports, Ukrinformreported August 27. Ukraine Seeks to Sell Arms to Pakistan.

The Lithuaniangovernment told BNS August 25 that the recent wave of terroristattacks against newspapers--the editorial offices of Respublikawere bombed last week-- and businessmen in Vilnius would begiven "due attention," BNS reported August 25. Belarus President Pushing Eastward and Backward.