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Show Russia, Belarus AnnouncePlans for Merger THEASSOCIATED PRESS MOSCOW — The presidents of Russia and Belarus agreed Fridayto take steps to mergethe two former Soviet republics into a single state as early as next year. Russian newsreports said the Proposed merger would be put to a public vote, but the text of the statement signed by Russia’s President Boris Yeltsin and Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenk o called only for “public discussion.” Thepresidents said they would moveearly next year to introduce a single currency and harmonize taxes — without waiting for popular approval. “We are now calling for merging our nations in one unionstate,” Yeltsin said at a news conferenc e after the meeting in the Kremlin. “Wecan be proud of such work.” Lukashenko said, “God help usto enter the next millennium asa singlestate.” The two leaders have long pledgedto take further integration steps but have done little. It remains unclear whether Friday’s agreements will be implemented, because many Russian politicians oppose a merger. In the Belarusian capital Minsk, the opposition charged that Lukashenko was Pushingthe merger to be able to run for Russian president in 2000. “Fearing free democratic election, and in order to keep powerandhave a chance to fight for leadership in Russia, Lukashenko has chosen to eliminate Be- larus’ statehood,” said the main Opposition group, the Belarusian Popular Front About 20 activists from opposition and humanrights movements tried to block a road in central Minsk to protest the merger. Police beat protesters and detained themall, said a popular front leader, Anatoly Krivorot. An elderly man was injured in the scuffle, Krivorot said. The authoritarian Lukashenko has long pushed for uniting his nation of 10 million people with Russia’s 147 million people. In 1996, he and Yeltsin signed a union agreement, boosting political, economic and military ties betweenthe twonations, but stoppingshort of creating onestate. Top Russianofficials said there is no immediate plan to mergethe two nations’ armedforces or pool the government coffers. Lukashenko wants a mergerto solve Belarus’economic problems, which havealready led to food rationing in some regions. The Belarusian economyis one of the most backward in the former Soviet Union, with almostall assets and markets under government control. “The man who has brought his nation to a dead- lock is now desperately trying to find a way out,” Semyon Sharetsky, an opposition leader in Belarus, said. In an immediatestep to ease Belarusian economic woes, Yeltsin and Lukashenkoagreed to allow Russian and Belarusian companiesto import goods from each other at domestic prices. The agreement is crucial for Belarus, which relies on Russia’s energy resources and has run up a hugedebt. Domestic prices for Russia's oil and natural gas arestill far below the world market price, Apart from the economicinterests, many poli cians in both nations believe that the main motive behind Lukashenko’s drive for union is his ambition to run for the Russian presidency. Chechnya’s Top Islamic Court Suspends Parliament THEASSOCIATED PRESS MOSCOW — The top Islamic court in the breakaway republic of Chechnya suspended Parlia mentandfired several seniorofficials for allegedly collaborating with Russia, news reports said Friday The Supreme Shariah Court ordered Parliament — which has favored President Aslan Maskha- dov — to be “suspended” for contradicting Islamic norms and to be replaced with a council of top military commanders Turpal Atgeriyev, Chechnya’s deputy prime minister,said Friday that the court's decision did not mean Parliament's dissolution. Membersof parliament will join the new council along with military chiefs and religious leaders, hesaid The court also rebuked Maskhadovfor appointing several officials whoit said assisted Russia's “occupation regime” during the territory's 1994-96 independence SDs war, the Interfax and ITAR-T: news agencies reported Thecourt's verdict came afte) anappeal from a group of promi nent Chechen warlords who ac: cused Maskhadov of breaking Chechenlaw by maintainingclose relations with Russia and mandedhis ouster Price Effective Dec. 26, 1998 Saturday Only WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! THIS SATURDAY’S REAT DEALS! Market Street 41-50 Count digit ew Purchase any AT&T Wireless phone from Totally Wireless andreceivean all day ski pass to Brighton Ski Resort’ © Brighton MURRAY SANDY 236 East 6400 SouTH SOUTH TOWNE MALL BOUNTIFUL 129 West 500 SouTH Provo 480! 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