MOSCOW DISCARDS ALMATY’S CONCERN OVER COSSACKS.

Apparently reacting to concerns expressed by Kazakstan’s Security Council chief, Beksultan Sarsekov, over the experimental deployment of Cossack irregulars on the Russian-Kazak border (see Monitor, March 26), Moscow said yesterday that it will actually expand that practice. Col. Gen. Aleksandr Yeryomin, deputy commander of Russia’s border forces, announced a plan to station auxiliary Cossack units all along the border by June. Yeryomin added that Russia declines to install any border markers — a remark likely to intensify Almaty’s concerns. (Itar-Tass, March 26)

More Russian Cabinet Appointments Announced.