YELTSIN TO SKIP G-7 SUMMIT.

Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin is set to attend the June 27-29 G-7 summit in Lyon after President Boris Yeltsin announced yesterday that election campaigning would keep him away from the meeting. Although G-7 leaders were reported to be sympathetic, some observers wondered if Yeltsin wanted to avoid appearing too close to the West only days before the July 3 vote. (Reuter, June 19)

Lebed On Chechnya: Political Solution and Referendum.