TAX REFORM IN AN ELECTION YEAR.

Deputy finance minister Sergey Shatalov saidthat tax reform would be a priority issue in 1996, Nezavisimaya gazetareported May 13. Such reforms were needed, Shatalov said, to improve taxcollections and bring Russia into line with European standards. He suggestedthat both steps were necessary for Russian participation in the GATT.

Foreign Credit Watchdog Agency To Be Set Up.