CHERNOMYRDIN CRITICIZES NATO; ADDRESSES CHECHNYA.

Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin jumped on the anti-NATO bandwagon on October 2, suggesting to reporters in Geneva that the Western alliance should put its enlargement plans on hold and focus instead on improving relations with Russia. Chernomyrdin, who seems intent on carving out a greater foreign policy role for himself during Boris Yeltsin’s illness, was in Geneva for talks with Swiss foreign minister — and OSCE chairman — Flavio Cotti. Chernomyrdin also praised the work of the OSCE mission to Chechnya, which is headed by a Swiss diplomat, and said Russia favors the extension of the mission’s mandate. (Itar-Tass, October 2)

Finance Ministry on Military Budget.