SOLANA IN UKRAINE.

The Secretary-General of NATO, Javier Solana, visited Ukraine on July 9 and 10 for talks with President Leonid Kuchma and the Ukrainian leadership. The visit was timed to the anniversary of the NATO-Ukraine Distinctive Partnership Charter, signed on July 9, 1997. (See the Monitor, July 10, 1997) Solana and the Ukrainian leaders reviewed the progress achieved in implementing the charter with regard to political and security consultations, joint military exercises and assistance to Ukraine’s military reforms and industrial conversion. They also discussed military liaison missions and the expansion of the activity of NATO’s information center in Kyiv. Defense Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk offered to place Ukraine’s military training ranges at the disposal of NATO member and partner countries for joint training. (UNIAN, DINAU, July 9 through 11)

LEFTIST FORCES TIGHTEN HOLD OVER UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT.