ARMENIAN PRESIDENT GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE.

In response to a risingtide of criticism for his closing of a Russian-language paper, for the death of aninmate, and for his criticism of the Dashnaksutyun nationalist party, ArmenianPresident Levon Ter-Petrosyan attacked his critics in a speech to parliament,Noyan tapan news agency reported May 19. Ter-Petrosyan said his opponentswanted to turn Armenia into another “Lebanon.” His words did little to calm thesituation; yet another Russian weekly paper was pressed to drop plans to publishmaterial from the now-closed Russian daily Golos rodiny. In protest, our authorleft a blank space where the article was to have appeared, Respublika Armeniasaid the same day.

More Tajik Talks Scheduled.