At a press briefing after hissession with Yeltsin, Moldovan president Mircea Snegur ruled outbasing rights for Russian troops in Moldova, disputed Moscow'sclaims that the 14th army plays a stabilizing role, and outlinedChisinau's proposals for a devolution of power to the Transdniestrregion. But reflecting the intense... MORE

Moldovan delegates to the Council of Europe toldthe Monitor June 28 that as members of that body, they would objectto Russia's future admission if Russia did not withdraw its troopsfrom the Transdniestr region as agreed. The day before, the Council'sParliamentary Assembly voted unanimously to admit... MORE

In the nearfuture, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will come toWashington at President Bill Clinton's invitation to seek an agreementon Karabakh and on the route of oil pipelines out of Azerbaijan,Armenian media reported June 28. Citing both Armenian Americanand Armenian government officials for this... MORE

Ata foreign ministers' meeting in Ashkhabat, Armenia signed an agreementthat will allow Turkmenistan to send oil and gas to Armenia viaIran, the Noyan Tapan news agency reported June 28. If realized,this arrangement would reduce Russian influence in Yerevan butincrease Iran's voice there. Moreover, it will... MORE

As part of a deal under which Kazakhstan will receive a numberof telecommunications retransmitting sites, Russia will be permittedto extend its military communications system across Kazakhstan'sterritory, Rossiiskie vest reported June 27. This arrangementwill allow Moscow to reestablish much of the military communicationsnetwork it had before... MORE

Stung by increasing Russiancriticism of their government and its military, the Tajiks havedenounced Russian peacekeepers for neglecting safety precautions,getting in the way of local murder investigations, and lying aboutthe success rate of Tajik investigations into the murder of Russiansoldiers, Interfax reported June 28. Even more,... MORE

Kommersant-Daily reported June28 that Russian and foreign Masons have reestablished the GrandLodge of Russia. Many Russian nationalists blame a Masonic conspiracyfor the 1917 revolution and other disasters, and anti-masonicrhetoric has long been a part of Soviet and post-Soviet diatribesby Russian extremists. Now, however, the Masons... MORE

On June 27, a compromise emerged in the conflict betweenthe Russian parliament and the government of Prime Minister ViktorChernomyrdin. Moscow media suggested that Chernomyrdin will takeback his call for a vote of confidence and that the parliamentwill vote again on a no confidence measure. Such... MORE

Talks between the Russian and Chechendelegations resumed June 28 after a break in which spokesmen forboth sides adopted tougher public positions and acknowledged thatthere would be more problems ahead in resolving political difficulties,Moscow media reported June 27. In related developments, sporadicfighting continued with each side... MORE

Although Russian and Western journalistshave frequently interviewed both Shamil Basayev, the leader ofthe Chechen raid on Budennovsk, and Chechen president DzhokharDudayev, a Russian television commentator said June 26 that "ourcompetent organs" don't seem to be able to locate eitherman. Anger exploded over the apparent inability... MORE