In a move that could jump-start long stagnant relations between the two countries, Japanese prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto yesterday revealed that Tokyo will alter its diplomatic policies toward Moscow. In a speech before the Japanese Association of Corporate Executives, Hashimoto declared that Japan's approach to... MORE

On July 21 a U.S. and a Ukrainian paratrooper unit began an exercise at a mountain site near Uzhorod, in Ukraine's Carpathian region. They are jointly conducting parachute jumps, firing practice, and tactical classes. The main phase of the exercise, to end on August 1,... MORE

The U.S. company UNOCAL, along with Delta of Saudi Arabia and the Oil and Gas ministers of Turkmenistan and Pakistan signed in Islamabad on July 23 an agreement to build a major export pipeline for Turkmen gas. The 1,400 kilometer-long pipeline, with an annual throughput... MORE

Presidents Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, Nursultan Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan, and Askar Akaev of Kyrgyzstan met on July 24 in Cholpon-Ata, on Issyk-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan, for a regular summit of the Central Asian Union -- comprised of the three countries. The presidents reviewed preparations for... MORE

Chechen first deputy premier Movladi Udugov has accused the "Christian West" of trying to destabilize the situation in his republic. Udugov told local television on July 22 that Russia, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia are pouring "endless streams of dollars" into the North Caucasus in... MORE

The office of the OSCE mission in the center of Djohar-gala was broken into during the night of July 22-23. Thieves made off with some $30,000 and a Jeep that had been parked outside. Two guards were taken captive but later released, and none of... MORE

An American official announced yesterday that the 30 countries involved in the Vienna negotiations to adapt the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty had agreed "in principle" on the basic elements of a new treaty. National Security Council member Robert Bell said there would... MORE

Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov departed yesterday on an official Asian trip that will take him to South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. In Seoul, Primakov is to meet with South Korea's president and foreign minister, and the two sides are expected to issue a joint... MORE

The controversial bill on religion, vetoed earlier this week by President Boris Yeltsin, has been sent back to parliament where a commission representing the Duma, the Federation Council, and the president will try to agree on amendments. The Duma is not due to return from... MORE

The Russian president has criticized those Russian leaders who have not yet submitted declarations of their assets. Yeltsin launched the drive as part of his latest campaign against corruption and the deadline for filing the declarations expired on July 20. But Yeltsin complained yesterday that,... MORE