BALTIC APPEALS TO NATO LEAVE FRANCE BLASE.

A Latvian delegation headed by parliament chairman Alfreds Cepanis returned disappointed from talks in Paris with senior French politicians of various parties. While supportive of Latvia’s admission to the European Union, the French hosts discouraged Baltic hopes for accession to NATO, dwelt on the need for good relations with Russia, and seemed to believe that the Baltic states discriminate against ethnic minorities. Cepanis felt that the French had accepted the official Russian view. (BNS, November 2)

Belarusan Defense Minister Dismissed.