MOSCOW TO REFORM PENSION SYSTEM.

The Russian governmenthas given preliminary approval to a three-tier pension systemthat would replace the existing Soviet-era one, Finansovyeizvestiya reported August 22. In place of the single statepension, the new system would have a basic pension like the AmericanSocial Security, a labor pension that would reflect income andservice, and a private pension that would be agreed to by enterprisesand their employees. Reports that the pension system was to beoverhauled have already sparked fears among many Russians thatthey are about to lose their present or future benefits.

Swiss Call for Russian Integration into European Security System.