MOSCOW REAFFIRMS DEMAND FOR KOENIGSBERG CORRIDOR

. Russian Presidential Council member and Europe Institute Director Sergei Karaganov declared yesterday that Russia needs a "transit corridor for free access" to Koenigsberg/Kaliningrad region through Polish territory. Karaganov recommended that Moscow persuade Poland that a stronger Russian presence in the Baltic region meets Polish interests as a counterweight to growing German influence. (13) The statement ignores Poland’s explicit opposition to the corridor plan, which was first aired by President Boris Yeltsin earlier this month. Polish foreign minister Dariusz Rosati yesterday again rejected the plan, pointing out that Russia has an overland communication line with Koenigsberg via Lithuania under agreements with that country. (14)

Speaker of Crimean Parliament Confident Crimea Will Retain Its Status.