CHECHNYA AND TATARSTAN SIGN FRIENDSHIP TREATY.

Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov was in Tatarstan yesterday to sign a treaty of friendship and cooperation with President Mintimer Shaimiev. The two presidents also signed a number of additional agreements under which Tatarstan will help Chechnya to restore its war-ravaged economy and health service and Chechens will be given access to Tatarstan’s institutes of higher education. Chechnya will establish a permanent representative in Kazan and Tatarstan will be represented in Djohar-gala. According to Ingush president Ruslan Aushev, who was also in Kazan yesterday, Tatarstan is to sign a similar accord with Ingushetia on June 4. The three presidents were expected afterwards to fly to the Netherlands to attend an international conference in The Hague. (Itar-Tass, RTR, May 21)

Russian and Chechen Police to Cooperate.