With73 of its own peacekeepers under attack by the Bosnian Serbs,Ukraine's foreign minister has asked for a meeting of the UN SecurityCouncil to consider what should be done next, Interfax reportedJuly 16. Meanwhile, unnamed Russian foreign ministry officialssuggested that the fall of Srebrenica has undermined... MORE

The Latviangovernment will use a European Union loan to reimburse depositorsat the failed Baltija Bank, BNS reported July 14. The World Bankand IMF will also provide credits to help overcome Latvia's bankingcrisis, but only if Riga adopts a package of new banking laws,the news service... MORE

Boris Yeltsin'sMarch 1995 decree annulling financial privileges for Kaliningradhas cost that region enormously, and has infuriated its politicaland economic leaders, Ekho Litvy reported June 20. Eventhe subsequent decision by Moscow to soften Yeltsin's order hasnot returned prosperity to the region. As a result, the Lithuanianpaper... MORE

A 56-year-oldethnic Russian resident of the Latvian city of Daugavpils burnedhimself to death to protest the failure of local officials togrant him permanent residence status, BNS and Russian televisionreported July 14. Russian media suggested that this was evidenceof the continuing violation of human rights in... MORE

Although the average Russianspends more than half his income on food, he is eating worse thanin the past, Moscow's Echo radio reported July 14. Russia's pooreststrata are no longer able to afford even potatoes and bread. Russian Drug Use Up.

One Russian family in six has a problemwith drug use, the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Socialand Political studies told Interfax July 16. One reason for thegrowth in the use of drugs is that the Russian public is now moretolerant of drug use, the... MORE

Despite earlier promises that the Russian governmentwould no longer participate in international grain deals, thisyear's bad harvest--which even the agricultural ministry sayswill be only 75-78 million tons--may force the Russian governmentto make such purchases, particularly for the Russian Far East,Interfax reported July 14. Russian Diet... MORE

Moskovskykomsomolets attracted 337,000 subscribers for the coming year,far ahead of other Russian papers but far below the number ofsubscribers it, and they, have had in the past, the Moscow dailyreported July 14. This announcement came as the Duma adopted alaw that will subsidize local and... MORE

The Russian ministry of economics has established a specialcenter to assist Westerners interested in investing in Russia.Its director warned Western investors not to wait, Russian televisionsaid July 14. "If you wait until normal Western conditionsfor business are established in Russia, you will lose out to... MORE

Clergy fromthe Russian Orthodox Church held a religious service in Sverdlovskat the site where the Bolsheviks murdered the Russian imperialfamily in 1918, Russian radio reported July 16. Among those inattendance were local officials, Cossacks, and members of patrioticassociations. Subscriptions to Central Papers Continue to Fall.