RUSSIA-BELARUS CUSTOMS UNION CRITICIZED.

Russia intends shortly to request that Belarus harmonize its tax legislation with Russia’s in order to avoid distortions in trade, a representative of the Russian State Customs Committee said yesterday. Russia has introduced some changes in its taxes that have been not followed by Belarus, and customs tariffs in the two countries still differ on 200 groups of products. Because of the differences Belarus has been used as a gateway to channel imports to Russia. (Interfax, November 20)

Chechen Fighters Take Russian Hostages.