YAROSLAVL OBLAST GOVERNOR SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH CHECHEN PRESIDENT.

Yaroslavl Oblast Governor Anatoly Lisitsyn flew to Djohar (formerly Grozny) on April 11 for talks with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov. In one of the main topics for discussion, Lisitsyn has asked the president to take part in the search for thirty-six servicemen missing in action after the war with Chechnya, eight of whom are from Yaroslavl Oblast. Maskhadov promised to take "all possible steps." Lisitsyn also signed an agreement with the Chechen leader to develop economic ties.

In doing so, Lisitsyn said that he was expressing not only his own opinion, but the opinion of other governors who are ready to work with Chechnya. Even if the Kremlin is not enthusiastic about Russian regions maintaining contacts with Chechnya, the leaders of Russian oblasts are still willing to conclude agreements with Chechnya on a regional level. (NTV, April 11)

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