RUSSIAN DUMA RATIFIES TROOP WITHDRAWAL ACCORDS WITH ESTONIA.

The Russian Duma on July 21 ratified the treaties on Russiantroop withdrawal from Estonia, and on social guarantees for retiredRussian military personnel still living in that Baltic republic,BNS reported. The two agreements were signed by President BorisYeltsin and President Lennart Meri in July 1994. Estonia has notyet ratified the accords, but Duma foreign relations committeechairman Vladimir Lukin said that Russia wanted to be first todo so, and Estonian officials suggested that it was proper forRussia to take the first step. Russia has not ratified the economicagreement between the two countries, and Russian officials saidthat it was now up to Estonia to take steps to improve relations.One indication that Moscow will not make any move in this direction:it has vetoed plans by officials in Russian areas neighboringEstonia to ease passport regulations, Russian radio reported July22.