PRIMAKOV TO MIDDLE EAST.

Russian foreign minister Yevgeny Primakov arrives in Syria today to begin a trip that will also take him to Lebanon, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the self-ruled Palestinian territories. Moscow has described the tour as part of an effort to reactivate Russia’s role in the region. A Russian diplomat on October 26 warned Europe against trying to supplant Russia as a player in Middle East peace negotiations. Earlier, Moscow had welcomed French president Jacques Chirac’s recent Middle East trip. (UPI, October 26)

Peacekeepers to be Volunteers.