MOLDOVA WARNED BY RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR.

Russia’s recently appointed ambassador to Moldova, Aleksandr Papkin, says in the current issue of the weekly Delovaya Gazeta (Chisinau) that Russian policy toward former Soviet countries has been "too moderate, lest it be accused of imperial ambitions." But Russia "will overcome guilt feelings" and "pursue its own vital interests." In Moldova, these interests include having a joint customs system and joint border protection. (12)

Moldova has declined participation in this type of measures either within the CIS or bilaterally with Russia. The latter had not raised the issue in a long time.

Ukrainian-Polish Defense Cooperation Initiated.