KAZAKHSTAN…
After lengthy negotiations, Russia has agreed to begin reducing its arrears on rent owed for use of the Baikonur space center. The rent, established in 1994 at what amounts to $115 million a year, has never been paid…. Kazakhstan may lift tariff surcharges imposed on Russian goods in January. The decision to float the currency (the tenge) has restored the competitive balance that was upset last August by Russia’s devaluation.