Azerbaijani President Haidar Aliev's decision to proceed with an official visit to Iran (see the Monitor, January 20) has been facilitated by a recent, slight thaw in bilateral relations. Even amid thorny disagreements on a wide range of issues (see the Monitor, January 20), official... MORE

A major spy row between Moscow and Warsaw looked to be brewing yesterday following Poland's expulsion of nine Russian diplomats. A Polish government communique said that Russia's ambassador to Poland had been called into the Foreign Ministry and told that each had been declared persona... MORE

Russian and U.S. arms control negotiators wound up a second day of talks in Geneva yesterday and were expected to meet for a third day today. The talks, which according to at least one source had not been previously announced, were apparently being conducted away... MORE

The stand-off continues between the minority factions in Russia's new State Duma--including Fatherland-All Russia, the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) and Yabloko--and the two largest factions--Unity and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF). The three minority factions, along with some members of the... MORE

Acting President Vladimir Putin, who held forth yesterday on the federal budget and the need for a strong and effective state, has yet to comment on the stand-off in the State Duma. Meanwhile, the Russian media and other key observers have generally been critical of... MORE

Kremlin administration chief Aleksandr Voloshin instructed Russia's special services yesterday to thwart attempts by foreigners to interfere in Russia's presidential campaign. Speaking to the heads of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Voloshin called on the organization to ensure that foreign citizens or organizations "do not... MORE

On January 15, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma signed a decree scheduling a long-promised constitutional referendum for April 16 (see the Monitor, June 29, July 19, October 29). The plebiscite will decide the issues: (1) passing a no-confidence vote in the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada), (2)... MORE

The Verkhovna Rada, which has been a hindrance to important market-oriented legislation in Ukraine, may no longer be so if the pro-presidential center-right majority within it, a goal established on January 13, endures. This majority originally included 237 people's deputies in the 445-member body, representing... MORE

Russia and China this week launched the start of the new year--and the beginning of the post-Yeltsin era--with a reaffirmation of the importance that the two countries attach to their budding "strategic partnership." The pledge to further boost bilateral cooperation came during a three-day visit... MORE

Defense Minister Chi Haotian's meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergeev followed similarly predictable lines. The two men signed a memorandum aimed at boosting military--and military-technical--ties, but there was little information as to precisely what the agreement entailed. The two also restated Russian and Chinese opposition... MORE