Kremlin press spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said yesterday that Moscow does not view the recent French-German-Russian initiative to hold regular three-way summit meetings -- announced on October 10 during a Council of Europe summit -- as impinging in any way on Russia's relations with the U.S.... MORE

Yesterday 2,500 sailors were released from the Russian Pacific Fleet in what was described as the first stage in a planned reduction of the fleet. Most of those let go came from shore-based coastal defense, communications, and naval aviation units. (Itar-Tass, October 13) U.S. Sixth... MORE

The commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, Vice-Admiral Steve Abbot, arrived at Yalta yesterday aboard his flagship, the USS La Salle. Abbot then drove to Sevastopol to meet with Adm. Mikhailo Yezhel, commander of the Ukrainian Navy. (AFP, October 13) Commission Holds First Meeting on... MORE

The conciliation commission appointed by the Russian parliament and government to work out a compromise federal budget for 1998 held its first meeting yesterday. Last week, the Duma rejected the government's draft in the first reading. First Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Chubais, who attended yesterday's... MORE

Duma leaders are expected to decide today whether to go ahead with the vote of no-confidence in the government for which the Communist and Popular Rule factions have called. If the decision is positive, the vote is likely to be held tomorrow. (Itar-Tass, October 13)... MORE

U.S. investment banker Boris Jordan has been granted a three-month single entry visa to Russia but has not yet managed to get back the multi-entry visa of which he was stripped earlier this month. Jordan blames unspecified rivals of the Oneksim group with which his... MORE

The pages of the Russian press have seen many articles of late reflecting on the political implications of the "bankers' war." Valery Khomyakov argues that over the past four months the financial elite has united around a single theme -- the discrediting of Anatoly Chubais.... MORE

Moscow believed that an agreement had been reached at the Russian-Chechen talks in Dagomys last week by which Grozny's representatives would be present on October 13 when the Russian Duma examined the alternative versions of the Russian-Chechen treaty proposed by Moscow and Grozny. Yesterday, however,... MORE

Russian and Japanese negotiators yesterday launched five days of talks in Moscow aimed at reaching agreement on a packet of documents that would permit -- and regulate -- fishing by Japanese boats in the waters off the Russian-controlled Kuril Islands. This is the twelfth round... MORE

The Russian General Staff officer in charge of recruitment indicated on October 12 that, if the government wants to implement its planned transition to an all-volunteer military, it will have to start paying contract soldiers a lot more money. Lt. Gen. Vladislav Putilin revealed that... MORE