RUSSIANS EYEING FORMER NAVAL BASE IN LATVIA.

Arkady Volsky, the politically influential head of Russia’s Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, claims that Russia and Latvia are holding talks on the Russian purchase of its former naval base in Liepaja. Volsky told a news conference in Koenigsberg/Kaliningrad that it would be "inexcusable if Russia was to lose such a base." Prior to the Russian withdrawal from the Baltic states, Liepaja was one of the Baltic Fleet’s main bases. (BNS, Interfax, January 10)

Chumakau Confirmed as Belarus Defense Minister.