ULMANIS SEES DESTABILIZATION RISK IN RUSSIAN RHETORIC.

Interviewed inyesterday’s Nezavisimaya gazeta, Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis urgedMoscow to engage in a political dialogue with Latvia “without preconditions”and to end the “unfounded accusations” against the country. Ulmaniscautioned Russia’s leadership against the possible consequences of its”loud, ill-conceived declarations…which entangle the Russian population[of Latvia] in political problems and stir up hate feelings in its ranks.”Economic sanctions, Ulmanis went on, would harm both countries, but “Latviawould survive while Russia would severely hurt its own international image.”Riga meanwhile “works seriously to resolve ethnic issues that arecomplicated and painful to Latvians.” (Nezavisimaya gazeta cited by Russianagencies, June 2) With the diplomatic dialogue blocked by Russia, Ulmanisresorts to media diplomacy on the eve of the Latvian parliament’s decisivevote on changes to the citizenship and language laws.

PAHANYAYLA STRIPPED OF LICENSE.