YAVLINSKY CAUGHT IN THE CROSS-FIRE.

If Yeltsin is the biggest winner, presidential hopeful Grigory Yavlinsky is the biggest loser. The fact that Yeltsin now looks like the only candidate strong enough to counter the Communists has shrunk Yavlinsky’s chances of appearing as a serious contender. Writing in Kuranty, Viktor Bondarev says the latest catchword in the wake of the March 15 vote is: "Yavlinsky means civil strife, Zyuganov means civil war, Zhirinovsky means a world war." There are reports that banks that were backing Yavlinsky have withdrawn their promise of financial support for his campaign. (Kuranty, March 20) A further indication of Yavlinsky’s weakness is that his party has entered into negotiations with two other presidential hopefuls — Aleksandr Lebed and Svyatoslav Fedorov — neither of whom appears willing to stand down in favor of Yavlinsky. Fedorov has nonetheless revealed that the three leaders are actively negotiating over a joint economic and political platform, though he acknowledged that differences between himself and Yavlinsky over economic policy stand in the way of final agreement. (Nezavisimaya gazeta, March 20)

NATO Secretary General Lobbies for Cooperation in Moscow.