LATVIAN PM: RUSSIA NOT READY FOR COUNCIL OF EUROPE.

Latvianprime minister Maris Gailis said that the Council of Europe mustnot lower its standards on human rights in order to admit anycountry, including Russia, BNS reported June 28. Gailis also suggestedat a Council meeting that Russia should fulfill its commitmentsto Riga on the repatriation from Latvia of a certain number ofretired military officers. Council of Europe president MiguelAngel Martinez said that his organization was unlikely to admitRussia this year.