YELTSIN LAUNCHES NEW SET OF REFORMS.

From his vacation villa in Sochi, President Yeltsin signed three decrees on April 28 laying out a timetable for reforms in the natural monopolies, housing utilities, and telecommunications. (RTR, Interfax, April 28) First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov said that monopolies will be retained in railways, electricity, and gas, but state control will be tightened and more competition will be introduced in terms of access to distribution networks.

Russian Duma in Recess.