MOSCOW BANK DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN COLLAPSE OF BALTIJA BANK.

Officials at the Moscow-based Intertek bank told BNS August 30that they had not purchased a large part of the portfolio of theBaltija Bank in Riga and then used that to bring down the Latvianbank. The Russian bankers said they were surprised by the "politicaluproar" caused by a "common international financialtransaction." Intertek officials said that such charges werenothing more than the usual attempt of Latvians to blame theirproblems on "Russian imperialistic tendencies."

Russia To Use Alternatives To Baltic Ports.