KARIMOV CONCERNED BY IMPLICATIONS OF RUSSIA-BELARUS UNION.

Uzbek president Islam Karimov is concerned that a union of Russia and Belarus, if created, would exert pressure on Ukraine to "willy-nilly join in," and that a tripartite "Slavic union" would enable Russia to "control the entire post-Soviet space." Belarus "would have to give up its sovereignty in a union with Russia," Karimov told a news conference, and the claims that the union will be based on equality are "illusion and fraud." Except for Belarus, "none of the [CIS] independent countries intend to renounce their sovereignty," Karimov asserted. (Interfax, May 4-5)

Kazakstan Abolishes Three More Regions.