LATVIAN BANKING CRISIS CONTINUES TO EXPAND.

The failureof the Baltija Bank has sparked political controversy in the Latvianparliament over who will control the reform of the banking system,has worsened the Latvian government’s budget deficit, has ledto a dramatic rise in the interest rates Riga must pay on itstreasury bills, and has sparked a run on the Lithuanian currencyas well, BNS reported June 30-July 1.

Russia’s Customs Officials Have Problems in Belarus.