MOLDOVAN-ROMANIAN TREATY TALKS MARK TIME.

A three-day roundof staff-level negotiations in Bucharest on the Moldovan-Romanianbasic treaty failed to yield results, Flux reported July 11. Diplomatson both sides told the agency that the negotiations may last anothertwo to three years. They have been held intermittently since 1991.Chisinau wants a treaty in strict conformance with standard internationalpractice and objects to Bucharest´s wish for a treaty thatwould codify "special relations," define Moldova asa "Romanian state," and refer to "reversing theconsequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact"–a proposalthat Chisinau regards as intended to imply a Romanian title tomost of Moldova´s territory.

Moscow Direct Aid to Abkhazia to Increase Despite GeorgianProtests.