NO NORWAY TRIP FOR GRACHEV.

Russian defense minister Pavel Grachev will not attend an upcoming conference of Scandinavian defense ministers as planned, the Norwegian Defense Ministry reported yesterday. The ministry named first deputy defense minister Andrei Kokoshin as a possible replacement. Itar-Tass provided no explanation as to Grachev’s change in plans. The agency also suggested that a scheduled visit by Grachev and Norway’s defense minister to a storage base for decommissioned nuclear submarines on the Kola peninsula would not take place. (Itar-Tass, May 15)

Iron Guard Group Uncovered in Moldova.