U.S. SENATE RESPONDS TO COVERT ARMS TRANSFERS TO ARMENIA.

Recent disclosures that the Russian military had covertly transferred large quantities of arms to Armenia was reflected in one of the reservations the U.S. Senate tacked on to the CFE Flanks agreement during Wednesday’s ratification vote. The Senate mandated that President Clinton report no later than August 1 as to whether Armenia was in compliance with the CFE treaty "in allowing the transfer of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the treaty through Armenian territory to the secessionist movement in Azerbaijan." Some senators objected to singling out Armenia and a last-minute amendment added a second topic for the president’s report: whether "other States Parties" in the Caucasus region were complying with the treaty. (C-Span2, May 14)

Breakthrough in Major Gas Export Project.