NATO EXPANSION ON COURSE.

During a conference in Brussels on the eve of another visit to Eastern Europe by NATO secretary-general Javier Solana, alliance officials reportedly have indicated that NATO has recently stiffened in its resolve to expand "even if the Russians don’t like it." But they also said that initial enlargement plans were likely to include admission for only three or, at most, four countries: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and possibly Slovakia. (Reuter, April 25)

Zhirinovsky Celebrates Birthday.