BEREZOVSKY HITS BACK.

Berezovsky reacted caustically to Yeltsin’s reprimand yesterday, telling a press conference that it was important to tell the truth about the Caucasus and that burying one’s head in untruths would only create further troubles. Berezovsky aimed his criticism at the Russian government’s "young reformers," First Deputy Prime Ministers Anatoly Chubais and Boris Nemtsov. (Russian news agencies, August 20) His words served as a reminder that the quarrel now raging is only partly to do with Russia’s relations with Chechnya. It has its roots in last month’s battle over Russian telecoms giant Svyazinvest and springs from conflicting views over the role the Russian government should play in financial affairs. Chubais and Nemtsov are generally portrayed in the western media as championing a liberal, transparent market economy. Berezovsky managed in his remarks yesterday to turn this interpretation on its head and to portray Chubais and Nemtsov as naive government busybodies trying to interfere in the workings of the market and tell financiers how to do their job.

Security Council Discusses North Caucasus.