In a reviewof Russian premier Viktor Chernomyrdin's visit to Tashkent lastweek, Segodnya on August 1 suggested that Uzbek presidentIslam Karimov had bested the Russian leader in three key areas:First, Karimov had convinced Chernomyrdin that the ethnic Russiansin Uzbekistan were doing well; second, he had failed... MORE

In theJuly 23-30 Moskovskie novosti, political analyst SanobarShermatova dismisses both the Turkmen government's suggestionthat the July 12 demonstrations in Ashgabat were the work of drugdealers, and the Turkmen opposition's suggestion that it was aspontaneous social pressure. Instead, she suggests that the demonstrationwas a covert operation... MORE

Citizens ofKazakhstan will have the opportunity to vote on a new constitutionAugust 30, President Nursultan Nazarbayev told a new conferencein Almaty August 1. The president's draft was amended on 55 points,but on two key issues--the status of the Russian language as anofficial but not state... MORE

Uzbek officials removed a statueof Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin from a square in front of PresidentIslam Karimov's residence, Interfax reported August 1. The onlySoviet-era statue still standing in the Uzbek capital is a monumentto Bolshevik commissars that stands in front of the city's mainrail station.... MORE

Ukrainianforeign minister Hennadi Udovenko told Interfax-Ukraine August1 that Belgrade's foreign minister had told him that Belgradewould be happy to have Ukraine assume the role of mediator inthe Bosnian crisis. Udovenko had offered Kiev's good offices,and Kiev as a possible site for future mediation efforts. Moldova... MORE

As Moldovan officialspressed local Gagauz units to turn in their weapons before theAugust 27 amnesty deadline, Moldovan Premier Andrei Sangheli officiallydeclared the conflict between Moldova and the Gagauz over, Moldovanmedia reported August 1. Chisinau has granted the Christian Turkicminority broad territorial autonomy and acknowledged its... MORE

The Georgian parliament remains deeply decided on the issuesof federalism, the structure of the future legislature, and thepowers of the executive, as it continues its debate on a new constitutionfor the country, Russian media reported August 1. If the deputiesare unable to approve a draft... MORE

TheEstonian parliament voted 86 to 0 to ratify an association agreementwith the European Union, BNS reported August 1. The Baltic countriesare the only former Soviet republics that have been offered suchagreements, and Estonia is the only Baltic state to be allowedto become an associate member... MORE

Moscowmaintained 1,565 military installations in Estonia, and thesefacilities occupied some 81,727 hectares of the country's territory,Estonian defense officials told BNS August 1. Most of the buildingsand land will be turned over to local governments for conversionto public use. Latvian Nationalists Seek to Limit Naturalization.

TheLatvian nationalist Fatherland and Freedom party