Prior to his departure for Belgrade, Russian foreign ministerAndrei Kozyrev again spoke out against any use of force in Bosnia:Such methods could result in "a big war," he told InterfaxJuly 24. Kozyrev said that Russia's approach to Bosnian Muslimsand Serbs was "well-balanced," unlike the positionsof... MORE

Followingon last week's announcement that Dushanbe is now prepared todiscuss the composition of a transitional government council withthe opposition comes a Russian radio report July 21 that the Tajikauthorities have permitted the country's Democratic Party to register.Earlier, the authorities had banned this group because its... MORE

The Karelian parliamentpassed a declaration which sets new stricter punishments for anyonewho exhibits a picture of any naked part of a human body in public,Izvestiya reported July 21. Makers of weight control tablets,for example, will now be required to take a picture of a barefoot... MORE

A Turkish newspaper,Yeni Sayfa, reported last week that Armenia, Azerbaijan,and Turkey are working behind the scenes on a Karabakh agreementthat would keep Karabakh in Azerbaijan, allow a pipeline to beconstructed through Armenia, and lead to massive Turkish assistanceto Yerevan. This report may be a negotiating... MORE

Becausemany Soviet-era state monopolies have now become private monopolies,Bishkek must retain some blocks of shares in key industries inorder to prevent unjustified price increases, Kyrgyz officialstold Interfax July 21. Kazakhs Deport Tajiks Suspected of Attacking Russians.

Kazakhauthorities have deported to Dushanbe three Tajiks who have beenaccused of attacking Russian forces in Tajikistan, Interfax reportedJuly 21. Kazakhstan Limits Immigration.

According to a new decreeof President Nursultan Nazarbayev, only 5,000 families will beallowed to immigrate into Kazakhstan in 1996, Russian radio reportedJuly 20.

Tajik officialsare considering importing natural gas from Turkmenistan, the BBCreported July 21, citing the Turkmenistan press agency. The Tajiksare also discussing with Turkmenistan their plans to have Dushanbe,Ashgabat, and Tehran sign a broader economic pact, the agencyreportedly said. Such contacts would help to lessen Tajikistan'scurrent... MORE

Moscow will use "awhole range of measures, including tough ones" to force Bakuto change its position on the status of the Caspian sea, a seniordiplomat told Interfax July 21. Like Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan believesthat the Caspian Sea is a sea--not a lake--and thus should besubject to... MORE

Maj. Gen. Anatoly Merkulev, commander of Russianpeacekeeping forces in South Ossetia, said that his men did notneed any help from Georgian and Ossetian forces and that the lattertwo groups should be withdrawn, Interfax reported July 21. Georgiahas agreed to this latest Russian demand, but the... MORE