MOSCOW PAPER: KARIMOV OUTSMARTED CHERNOMYRDIN.

In a reviewof Russian premier Viktor Chernomyrdin’s visit to Tashkent lastweek, Segodnya on August 1 suggested that Uzbek presidentIslam Karimov had bested the Russian leader in three key areas:First, Karimov had convinced Chernomyrdin that the ethnic Russiansin Uzbekistan were doing well; second, he had failed to agreeto allow Russian journalists free access inside Uzbekistan asa result of which Moscow journalists could not really report onwhat had happened in the meetings; and third, the Uzbek presidenthad simply refused to talk in detail about how its debts to Russiawould be repaid.

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