GEORGIA DENIES CHANGE OF HEART ON BLACK SEA FLEET.

Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze’s press secretary yesterday expressed surprise at media reports from Kiev that quoted visiting defense minister Vardiko Nadibaidze as saying Georgia had dropped its claim to part of the former Soviet Black Sea Fleet. (See yesterday’s Monitor) Vahtang Abashidze said that Nadibaidze’s words must have been misinterpreted, and he stressed that Georgia had not changed its position on this issue. (Russian agencies, August 26)

Kazakhstan Cancels Gold Mining Contract with Canadian Firm.