Russian commentaryon the agreement with the Chechens remained as divided as theChechens appear to be. Military observer Pavel Felgengauer wrotein Segodnya August 1 that the agreement was simply a "face-saving"measure to allow the Chechens to capitulate. Moscow, he said,had given away nothing politically in order... MORE

The Russianforeign ministry said that Moscow expected both the United Statesand the United Nations to put pressure on Croatia to withdrawits troops from Bosnia, Moscow radio reported August 1. The ministryspokesman said that this was especially important now that AndreiKozyrev had achieved "at least initial... MORE

Sporadic fightingtook place between Russian and Chechen units even after Russianand Chechen commanders issued a joint appeal for an end to thefighting, and called on Chechen units to begin to turn in theirarms, Moscow media reported August 1-2. Meanwhile, the other Chechennegotiations remained at a... MORE

In yet another indicationthat the recent military accord between the Chechens and the Russiansis not the end of the story and that the central political question--thestatus of Chechnya--remains open, Chechen president Dzhokhar Dudayevsacked Usman Imayev, his chief negotiator, apparently for makingtoo many concessions to Moscow,... MORE

V. Tronin, a worker ata Nizhny Tagil tank factory, took one for a drive through thecity's streets recently, and returned to the factory only whenthe tank was about to run out of gas, the Cherepovets newspaperRech reported June 23. When caught by authorities, he toldthem... MORE

Azerbaijaniparliament speaker Rasul Guliyev said on Baku television July30 that Baku would like to settle the Karabakh conflict by peacefulmeans, but "if the aggressor does not wish to liberate outlands by peaceful means, we have no other choice but to searchfor other ways to free... MORE

TheRussian fuel and energy ministry is backing an initiative by theRussian state oil company ONAKO to merge with the Kazakh oil firmAMG, PIA-Interfax reported July 31. The new firm, a Russian-Kazakhconglomerate, would give Moscow additional leverage on Almatyconcerning the routing of any pipeline carrying Kazakh... MORE

Russian-ledTajik border guards seized 300 kilograms of opium from local residentsin Badakhshan near the Afghan border, Moscow radio reported July31. Meanwhile and in a reflection of Moscow's growing concernabout instability in Tajikistan, Russian deputy foreign ministerAlbert Chernyshev has flown to Dushanbe to consult with the... MORE

Russian forces in Moldova's Transdniester region will resumeon August 1 the destruction of mines and other munitions storedthere, Russian television reported July 30. The destruction ofthese weapons--mandated by the Moscow-Chisinau agreement on withdrawalof Russian forces from Moldova--had been stopped when local peoplecomplained about the noise... MORE

Russian first deputy foreign minister Igor Ivanov toldAzerbaijan's ambassador in Moscow Ramiz Rezayev that Moscow hadno plans to use economic or other means to force Baku to changeits position on the status of the Caspian Sea, Moscow radio reportedJuly 28. The denial came after a... MORE