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#3
ORT Review
www.ortv.ru
Compiled by Luba Schwartzman (luba7@bu.edu)
Research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy
at Boston University


HEADLINES,
Thursday, October 18, 2001

- Representatives of the Georgian diaspora in Russia spoke out against a military approach to the conflict in Abkhazia and appealed to the Georgian government to show wisdom and restraint.

- Russian soldiers have noticed suspicious individuals near the Kodor Gorge during night-time surveillance operations.

- According to statements of members of the political elite in Sukhumi, Abkhaz authorities are preparing documents concerning a confederation with Russia. Abkhaz Prime Minister Anri Jergenia declared that Abkhazia does not desire to be a part of the Russian Federation, but merely seeks associated relations -- cooperation in border patrol and customs operations, establishing a single currency. Members of Russia's Federation Council explain that there are no provisions for such status and that Abkhaz authorities are seeking to use Russia in the conflict with Georgia.

- The Russian Tax Ministry has declared that a single information database on CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) businessmen working in Russia is necessary to monitor their income and profit activity.

- In connection with the threat of the spread of anthrax, the Russian government is placing all post offices under special control. In the Kremlin administration, every one of the approximately 5,000 letters received daily is opened by employees of the presidential apparat; so far nothing suspicious has been found.

- Russian border troops are monitoring developments in Abkhazia. Some of the fighters have approached the border with Karachaevo-Cherkessia, but no attempts to cross the border have been made.

- Abkhaz forces are pursuing scattered groupings of fighters in the Kodor Gorge. A small group heading for Georgia was destroyed last night.

- State Duma Deputies discussed President Putin's decision to close the military bases in Vietnam and Cuba. Viktor Iliukhin, a member of the Duma's Security Committee suggested making an investigation into the consequences of the closing of these objects. He was supported only by Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznev expects President Putin to explain the details of the decision to the deputies personally. Also discussed at today's meeting was the presidential draft of a bill making laws on Russian citizenship stricter -- for example, abolishing dual citizenship.

- President Putin visited Lensk and the Novaya Muria settlement in Yakutia to personally inspect reconstruction work there on his way to Shanghai.

- Colonel-General Anatoly Kvashnin, the chief of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, has arrived in Dushanbe to take part in negotiations concerning military-technological support to the Northern Alliance. According to unofficial reports, General Fakhim, a commander of the Anti-Taliban forces, is taking part in the meeting.

- The situation in Russia's fishing industry and cooperation with the Europen Bank for Reconstruction and Development were the main topics of discussion at today's cabinet meeting.

- Electricity has been cut off at television and radio stations throughout the Maritime Region due to VGTRK (Russia's state TV and radio company) failure to pay off debts to the electrical company.

- A major mercury spill has been reported at a factory in Kiev.

- The second float should be affixed to the Kursk nuclear submarine this evening. The submarine will then be transferred to the Roslyakovo dock.

- An employee of a research institute in St. Petersburg has been fined by the city court for a ill-chosen prank: sending a colleague an envelope containing white powder and marked "Jihad."

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