RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS TAKE AIM AT CHERNOMYRDIN.

In Moscow, meanwhile, Russian parliamentarians continued to vent their spleen on Russia’s special Balkans envoy. The Council of the State Duma yesterday approved a draft resolution on urgent measures needed to resolve the conflict in Yugoslavia. Sponsored by a trio of leftist deputies–Nikolai Ryzhkov, of the Popular Rule faction, communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, and agrarian leader Nikolai Kharitonov–the draft document contains a provision calling for the dismissal of Viktor Chernomyrdin. Among other things, the former prime minister is accused of having undermined Russian national interests during his negotiations with Martti Ahtisaari and Strobe Talbott last week.

In remarks to reporters, Chernomyrdin said yesterday that he was “not worrying too much” about the Duma resolution. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, it may be worth noting, made clear to reporters yesterday that he was closely following Boris Yeltsin’s orders in the course of his negotiations with the G-7 over the Kosovo resolution. Chernomyrdin has also been accused of violating Yeltsin’s negotiating guidelines in reaching last week’s agreement. The Duma draft resolution, which is to be formally discussed by lawmakers tomorrow, is nonbinding (Russian agencies, June 8).

KREMLIN DENIES PLANS TO POSTPONE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.