PRIMAKOV IN MIDDLE EAST.

Although Moscow has made clear that it regards Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov’s current visit to the Middle East as an effort to raise Russia’s diplomatic presence in the region, a top Jordanian government official said yesterday that Primakov had presented no new initiatives for reviving the stalled Middle East peace process during recent talks in Amman. Some Jordanian news commentators, meanwhile, have reportedly questioned Moscow’s ability to boost the peace process, arguing that the U.S. and Israel will not accept a greater peace-making role for Russia. (Xinhua, UPI, October 29)

Ukraine Converting Military Planes for Civilian Use.