RUSSO-JAPANESE CEREMONY NIPPED IN THE BUD.

A tree-planting ceremony meant to symbolize friendship between Russia and Japan turned into anything but that May 27 when Russian customs officials refused to allow ten baby cherry trees to be brought onto one of the four disputed Kuril Islands. The trees had been transported to the island by members of a Japanese group under a "no visa" travel agreement, but Russian border guards stopped the trees because they lacked proper quarantine documents, Japanese officials said. (Reuter, May 27)

Moscow Looks to Boost Trade with Belgrade.