GEORGIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS FAIL TO AGREE ON DRAFT CONSTITUTION.

The Georgian parliament remains deeply decided on the issuesof federalism, the structure of the future legislature, and thepowers of the executive, as it continues its debate on a new constitutionfor the country, Russian media reported August 1. If the deputiesare unable to approve a draft by August 3, the draft presentedby Georgian leader Eduard Shevardnadze will be subject to a publicreferendum on August 20. Meanwhile, Pravda reported onAugust 1 that a group of Georgian deputies had offered their supportto Russian Federation Council Chairman Vladimir Shumeiko who hasbeen criticized for his attacks on the Abkhaz leadership.

Kazakhs to Vote on Constitution August 30.