NEW FEDERATION COUNCIL TO CONVENE ON JANUARY 23.

Yeltsin has issued a decree convening the new Federation Council on January 23. The first session of the

upper house of parliament will be opened by the president and will chaired by the oldest member until a speaker is elected. Yeltsin’s decree gives regional legislatures and executives until January 10 to decide who will represent them in the Federation Council. The outgoing Federation Council will convene for the last time on January 16. (6)

Reformer Denies Dismissal.