YELTSIN WARNS PARLIAMENT OVER RELIGION BILL…

The controversial bill on religion, vetoed earlier this week by President Boris Yeltsin, has been sent back to parliament where a commission representing the Duma, the Federation Council, and the president will try to agree on amendments. The Duma is not due to return from its summer recess until September, however, so no final decision is likely to be taken before then. If the commission is unable to reach agreement, parliament may well choose to override the presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each house. In that event, Yeltsin would have to sign the bill into law. But, in a statement to the speakers of both houses published yesterday, Yeltsin urged parliament not to take that step. If it does, he warned, he will, at the same time as signing the bill, use his presidential power to suspend the operation of all of the bill’s articles that violate either the Russian constitution or Russia’s obligations under international law. (Itar-Tass, July 23)

… Threatens to Expose Officials Who Do Not Declare their Income.