TREADING WATER IN THE FAR EAST?

An Australian report, issued April 17, said that Russia’s efforts to play a greater role in the booming Asia-Pacific region depend upon a revitalization and restructuring of its stagnant Far Eastern economy. One day later, the governor of Russia’s Maritime krai criticized a Far Eastern regional development plan endorsed by the Russian government because, he said, it ignores many of the region’s economic realities, including the shortage of funding available for the program. (Reuter, April 17; Itar-Tass, April 18)

Ottawa and Moscow Sign Agreement.