RUSSIA AND ITALY TO SIGN SEVERAL ACCORDS.

Italian foreign minister Lamberto Dini said yesterday that Rome and Moscow would probably sign a memorandum next week unblocking an Italian loan to Russia worth $260 million. The two sides are also reportedly near to concluding accords on currency control and military and technical cooperation. During a press conference in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Dini also said Italy eagerly awaits a visit by Boris Yeltsin. (Itar-Tass, July 16)

Army Protests Funding Shortfalls.