By empty (7/3/2001 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Georgian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on 2 July condemning Russia's failure to vacate the military base in Gudauta, Abkhazia by 1 July in accordance with an agreement signed at the OSCE Istanbul summit in November 1999. The statement said it is "inadmissible" that such agreements should be thwarted by the Abkhaz "separatist regime." Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze acknowledged on 2 July that "problems" have arisen in connection with the Russian withdrawal from Gudauta, but expressed the hope that talks between the two sides will result in a mutually acceptable solution.

By empty (7/3/2001 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A poll of 1,000 Georgian citizens in both urban and rural areas, conducted between 25 June and 2 July, shows that only 6 percent consider that the situation in the country is developing satisfactorily. Those 6 percent are mostly aged between 35-40 and have a higher than average income. Respondents listed as the most pressing problems facing the country corruption, poverty, unemployment and political instability.

By empty (7/3/2001 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Not a single parliament deputy attended a 2 July meeting convened by the Human Rights Movement of Kyrgyzstan at which Foreign Minister Muratbek Imanaliev and government official Salamat Alamanov again insisted that the 1996 border agreement with China and the controversial 1999 amendments to it are in Kyrgyzstan's best interest. The Legislative Assembly (the lower parliament chamber) is campaigning for those accords to be annulled. (RFE/RL) KHATAMI DECLARES WAR ON ILLEGAL TRADE 3 July President Mohammad Khatami of Iran has vowed to root out smuggling of goods into the country, which is estimated to cost Iran two-billion dollars every year.