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Reports on the reaction of U.S. President George W. Bush's Administration to Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans for reforming the system of governmental authority in Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's comments on Putin's intentions to appoint governors and abolish direct parliamentary elections; Bush's expression of concern over the effect of the reforms on democracy in Russia.

The article reports on the warning issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry stating that Moscow is prepared to use military force if Georgia stands an armed conflict with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The statement was issued by Valery Kenyaikin, the Foreign Ministry's special envoy for relations with the CIS countries. Kenyaikin claims that Georgia has been building up its military presence near the conflict zone.

Reports that a discussion of the situation surrounding the Ukrainian election resulted in a quarrel between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; Suggestion by Lavrov that the organization be reformed; Reminder made by Powell to Russia of its failure to abide by agreements to withdraw its troops from Georgia and Moldova.