DANUBE FREE ECONOMIC ZONE AND EUROREGION PLANNED.

Meeting yesterday in Istanbul during the Black Sea Economic Cooperation conference — but outside its framework — Presidents Leonid Kuchma, Petru Lucinschi, and Emil Constantinescu agreed to begin preparations toward creating a Ukrainian-Moldovan-Romanian free economic zone and Euroregion around the Danube. (Western agencies, April 28) The area is currently shared by Romania and Ukraine and adjacent to Moldova. Yesterday’s agreement would imply Romanian recognition of the existing borders, which Constantinescu has advocated despite domestic political resistance.

Central Asia-China Transit Corridor Agreement Signed.