FEDERATION COUNCIL APPROVES DEPLOYMENT OF BOSNIA FORCE.

The Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, today approved the deployment of the Russian contingent of the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Bosnia. (2) Speaking to Ukrainian cadets in Kiev yesterday, Russian defense minister Pavel Grachev suggested the Russian force in Bosnia would try to avoid the use of force, but conceded that deep-rooted animosities between peoples of the region could test that resolution. Grachev said questions remained regarding political control of the peacekeeping operation. (3)

Kiev Welcomes Better Relations with Moscow.