RUSSIA OFFERS TO TRAIN CIS COUNTRIES’ DIPLOMATS.

Russian president Boris Yeltsin has signed a directive setting aside up to 100 places each year for aspiring diplomats from CIS member countries at Moscow State University’s International Relations Institute (MGIMO), the Diplomatic Academy, and in postgraduate programs. The training will be free of charge. Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev announced the decision and said that it takes immediate effect. (12)

The directive attempts to revive in a new form the Soviet practice of setting aside places for the former Soviet republics in institutions which trained future and junior Soviet diplomats. After 1991, Russia charged tuition fees in hard currency for this type of training, thus bringing it to a near standstill. The decision to eliminate the fees is probably inspired by hopes of developing informants and agents of influence in the foreign services of CIS countries.

It would not be surprising if Moscow soon eliminated the hard currency fees it introduced after 1991 for training officers for the former Soviet republics in Russian military academies.

1. Russian TV and Interfax, October 30

2. Itar-Tass, Interfax, Russian TV, NTV, Russian TV, October 29 and 30

3. Itar-Tass and Interfax, October 27

4. Interfax, NTV, October 27 and 28

5. Itar-Tass, October 28, 29, 30

6. Interfax, NTV, October 28

7. Russia’s radio, Interfax, October 27 and 29

8. UPI, October 30

9. Interfax-Ukraine, October 30

10. Interfax, October 30 and 26

11. Pravda, October 25; Interfax, October 25 and 30

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