COSSACKS TO GUARD RUSSIAN BORDERS ONCE AGAIN.

Russian border guards chiefGeneral Andrei Nikolayev told Pravda May 16 that Moscow will “create” Cossacksettlements around the periphery of the country and give them “appropriaterights” to help guard the country’s borders. (Moscow radio reported the sameday that the Duma security committee was preparing legislation on thispoint.) Nikolayev said Russia must not overextend itself in helping to defendthe external borders of the Commonwealth of Independent States as hesuggested it might be doing in Tajikistan. Even Russia’s ability to influencethe situation in these countries “has its limits.”

Russian Generals Believe NATO Would Defend Balts.