KUSHNAREV REAFFIRMS NATO OPTION FOR UKRAINE.

In Kiev yesterday, presidential administration head Yevgeny Kushnarev reinforced President Leonid Kuchma’s signal that Ukraine may seek NATO protection from Russia. (See Monitor, March 17) While Kuchma’s remarks "don’t imply that a decision to join NATO has already been taken… Russian pressures are indeed pushing Ukraine into a one-directional policy" toward the alliance, Kushnarev stated. He urged Moscow to "ponder the question as to why most of the former Soviet countries are moving closer to NATO." (Interfax-Ukraine March 19)

Chechen Parliament Elects Speaker.