TRANSDNIESTER TALKS LEADING NOWHERE.

Transdniester leader Igor Smirnov yesterday described as unacceptable recommendations from Russian, Ukrainian, and OSCE mediators on Transdniester’s future political status as an autonomous part of Moldova. Smirnov spoke after meeting Moldovan president Petru Lucinschi in Chisinau. Russia’s CIS affairs minister, Anatoly Adamishin, who was recently tasked by President Boris Yeltsin to coordinate Russian policy on this conflict, attended part of the talks. Smirnov also rebuffed Lucinschi’s proposal that Transdniester residents be allowed to vote in Moldova’s upcoming parliamentary elections. (Itar-Tass, Flux, Basapress, November 20-21)

Chubais Replaced as Finance Minister.