PRO-KUCHMA NOMINEE BARELY SHORT OF WINNING PARLIAMENT’S CHAIRMANSHIP.

Oleksandr Bandurka of the pro-presidential People’s Democratic Party received 222 votes in the latest balloting for the post of chairman of the Ukrainian parliament. Barely short of the 226 votes needed to win, the score was the best yet achieved by the coalition of centrist and national-democratic forces who battle the left for control of the new parliament. Leftist forces boycotted this voting round. The Communists again accused the presidential administration of offering individual deputies thousands of dollars in “bribes” in order to thwart a leftist victory. Nineteen rounds have been held since the parliament opened on May 12. (UNIAN, July 3)

CHISINAU, TIRASPOL CREATE NEW NEGOTIATING TRACK.