RUSSIA NEAR TO NAMING NATO REP.

Defense and Foreign Ministry sources in Moscow indicated yesterday that Russia is close to naming a military representative to NATO headquarters in Brussels. Defense Minister Igor Sergeev is reportedly considering several candidates and could present one for approval as early as next week. Former Russian defense minister Pavel Grachev, often mooted as a candidate for the post, is reportedly not one of those under consideration. NATO sources were said to have indicated that Grachev’s candidacy would be unwelcome, given the general’s role in Russia’s bloody war in Chechnya. (Russian agencies, October 7)

Mir