EUROPEAN UNION AGREES TO UNFREEZE ACCORD WITH RUSSIA.

Arguingthat Moscow had taken certain positive steps in resolving theChechen crisis, the leaders of the European Union said that theywould now go forward with an interim trade and cooperation agreementwith Russia, Moscow media reported June 27. That accord had beenon hold since January 1995, when the EU suspended talks over Chechnya.Among the leaders who did not agree with the latest step was Swedishprime minister Ingvar Carlsson; he said that the EU should befar more critical of Moscow’s involvement in Chechnya.

Economist: Monopolies Still Dominate Russian Economy.