CENTRAL ASIANS EXPAND TIES TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

Turkmenistan PresidentSaparmurat Niyazov met with Egyptian President Hosni Murbarak in Cairo May22, and the two agreed to establish diplomatic relations, Moscow radioreported. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto visited Tashkentto promote expanded trade and cultural ties with Uzbekistan.

Are Russians Authoritarian? Now We May Find Out.