DUMA LEADER SLAMS CHRISTOPHER; NATO AND SUMMIT ON AGENDA.

Russia’s lower house will vote on a resolution censuring U.S. secretary of state Warren Christopher for remarks critical of the Duma’s March 15 vote denouncing the disbandment of the USSR, Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev said yesterday. On March 19 Christopher called the resolution "highly irresponsible." Seleznev said the statement "crudely interfered in the internal affairs of Russia." (Reuter, March 21) Christopher, meanwhile, conferred yesterday with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana immediately upon his arrival in Moscow. He began talks with Boris Yeltsin today. The two sides planned to discuss the April G-7 summit in Moscow on nuclear security, but talks on NATO were expected to dominate the agenda. Christopher made a major address on the subject in Prague March 20, during which he reasserted NATO’s determination to admit new members. (See Monitor, March 21) Christopher also planned to meet last night with opposition political leaders, including Communist party chief Gennady Zyuganov. He will apparently not meet with ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky. (Reuter & Interfax, March 21)

NATO Secretary General Makes Little Progress in Moscow.