GAIDAR DENOUNCES KOZYREV.

Russia’ Choice leader Yegor Gaidar sharply criticized foreign minister Andrei Kozyrev for his drift toward nationalism, Vek reported in its June 9-15 issue. “In 1993 Kozyrev was a liberal foreign minister and our supporter. But in 1994 he approved the war in Chechnya and today is making statements which are dangerous to Russia.” Gaidar said. The former acting premier said that Kozyrev’s behavior was part of a more general problem: Yeltsin’s tendency to surround himself with “yes men” who are unable or unwilling to warn the president against the consequences of his own ill-conceived decisions. The Duma is scheduled to debate Kozyrev’s stewardship of foreign policy later this week.

Finance Ministry Projects GNP for 1996.