LENINGRAD GOVERNOR CALLS FOR DUMA ELECTIONS TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD.

The governor of Leningrad Oblast, Vadim Gustov, was quoted at the weekend as calling for elections to Russia’s State Duma to be brought forward from December 1999 to the spring of that year. Otherwise, he pointed out, decisions of national importance will be held up by campaigning and Russia will enter the year 2000 without a federal budget. As it is, he said, the first six months of 2000 are likely to be preoccupied by the presidential election and little serious work will be possible. (Russian agencies, May 16)

RUSSIA, CHECHNYA TO BOOST LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION.