RUSSIA SCRAPS TWO CARRIERS, LAUNCHES SUBMARINE, PLEADS POVERTY.

The Russian Pacific Fleet has arranged to sell two Soviet-eraaircraft carriers, the Minsk and the Novorossiisk,to South Korea for scrap, Itar-Tass reported August 1. But onthe same day, the news service reported that the Pacific Fleethad commissioned a new nuclear missile submarine which Russiancommanders said was "in no way inferior" to the AmericanLos Angeles-class submarines. Despite its launch of an expensivesubmarine, the chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. MikhailKolesnikov said that Russia cannot afford to meet this year’sinternationally mandated targets for the destruction of chemicalweapons, Russian radio reported August 2.

Duma Deputies Seek Special Session.