YELTSIN WILL GO TO IRAN BUT NOT NECESSARILY THIS YEAR.

BorisYeltsin is prepared to visit Iran but has not decided when,presidential foreign affairs aide Dmitry Ryurikov toldItar-Tass May 23. Presidential press secretary Sergei Medvedevspecifically rejected Tehran’s suggestion that the visit wouldoccur this year. In another step aimed at shoring up Russianinfluence in the Middle East, the Russian foreign ministryspokesman said May 23 that President Yeltsin had sent a letterto Morocco’s King Hasan that sharply criticized Israel’s planto confiscate 130 acres in Arab East Jerusalem. Yeltsin’sletter noted that Moscow had supported the UN Security Councilresolution condemning Israel for this move. The resolution wasvetoed by the US.

Democratic Divisions Seen Helping “Party Of Power.”