MOSCOW DEFENDS GULDIMANN "ON THE WHOLE".

Russian Foreign Ministry chief spokesman Grigory Karasin and other senior officials yesterday disavowed Zavgaev’s and the Grozny government’s public attacks on Guldimann and its demands for his recall from Chechnya. The Moscow officials assessed Guldimann’s performance as "positive on the whole" and stressed that Grozny lacked jurisdiction over OSCE activities in Chechnya. (Itar-Tass, Interfax, June 11). Guldimann played a key role in facilitating the armistice talks, which have in turn enhanced Yeltsin’s reelection prospects. But all bets seem off after the presidential election.

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