On the eve of a much-anticipated visit to Russia by Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, Moscow and Tokyo yesterday appeared to be offering divergent views over how the two countries might best move toward a full normalization of relations. Komura, who is to arrive in... MORE

Moscow yesterday took a break from its harsh criticism of Western policies in the Balkans. It appeared to take a more pragmatic step toward implementing the agreement reached earlier this week by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and U.S. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke. Reports out of... MORE

On October 15, the State Duma's budget committee approved the Central Bank's report on its 1997 activities, declaring that the bank had not committed any violations of the law. The Audit Chamber, an independent agency set up by the parliament, has long accused the Central... MORE

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who recently announced that he would consider running for president as head of a "left-center," or, alternatively, a "centrist" coalition, added to the growing number of voices suggesting that President Boris Yeltsin should step down for health reasons. In an interview... MORE

Nezavisimaya gazeta ran an all-but-apocalyptic prognosis of the food situation in Russia on the eve of winter as its main story today (October 16), citing four "facts" indicating that there will be shortages this winter. The first is that Russia's grain harvest this year--44 or... MORE

President Haidar Aliev's main rivals are all claiming success in the October 11 presidential election, whether they actually ran or not. The "quintet" of opposition leaders who boycotted the election are claiming that the voter turnout fell below the legally required minimum: "Many citizens supported... MORE

On October 12, the Bishkek press disclosed that customs officials had stopped a railroad train loaded with ammunition and weapons in the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan. Officially listed as humanitarian aid, the cargo had originated in Iran, was headed for Tajikistan and from... MORE

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has made public the country's short-term goals and expectations regarding its relations with the European Union (EU). Ukraine seeks, among other things: practical implementation of the EU-Ukraine agreement on partnership and cooperation, negotiations to create a EU-Ukraine free trade zone, an... MORE

At a cabinet meeting on October 14 Ukrainian Prime Minister Valeriy Pustovoytenko announced that he would propose that the factions which voted against the government dismissal on October 13 (see the Monitor, October 14) submit candidacies for posts in his cabinet (Ukrainian television, October 14).... MORE

Latvia was admitted yesterday into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the first post-Soviet country in Europe to become a full member. Latvia began accession negotiations with the WTO in 1993, simultaneously with the other two Baltic states, who seem close to admission, and with Russia,... MORE