RUSSIA’S FEDERATION COUNCIL SIDESTEPS RATIFICATION OF TREATY WITH UKRAINE.

In a vote of 115 to 15, with 9 abstentions, Russia’s Federation Council decided yesterday to postpone considering the Russian-Ukrainian interstate treaty. Nationalist and irredentist arguments appeared on the verge of prevailing during the debate, which turned emotional at times. Some moderate leaders ultimately opted for a postponement as preferable to rejecting the treaty, amending it or attaching reservations to it. Russian government representatives, abandoning their usual reserve, strongly urged ratification. The debate is supposed to be resumed in a month’s time. Meanwhile, a political fallout in Kyiv seems likely (Russian agencies, January 27; see also the Monitor, January 12, 27).

GEORGIA ADMITTED TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE.