Severe condenms of Moscow

It is high time NATO halted its bombing of Yugoslavia in order to seek a political solution to the Balkan crisis, the spokesman said, adding a suspension of the bombing would be a first step in that direction.

Russian president's special envoy for Yugoslavia Viktor Chernomyrdin said Friday Russia requested an immediate end to the bombings.

Underlining he would advocate this stance also in his future meetings with western politicians, Chernomyrdin confirmed that Russia's stance regarding the Balkan crisis remained unchanged after the talks held in Moscow with US Assistant Secretary of State Strobe Talbott.

Chernomyrdin returned Friday from Helsinki, where he discussed the Kosovo-Metohija crisis with Finland's president Martti Ahtisaari. He was due to meet Talbott again, but the latter had to go to Brussels to inform the NATO leaders of his talks with Chernomyrdin.

Chernomyrdin however said another meeting with Talbott was scheduled for the beginning of next week to discuss some details of a Balkan settlement before he visits Yugoslavia together with Ahtisaari.

The situation in Yugoslavia was discussed Friday also by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and a delegation of the Yemeni foreign ministry which is visiting Moscow.

Russia and Yemen advocate a peaceful settlement to the Balkan crisis that would guarantee rights and interests of all ethnic and religious groups in Yugoslavia, a statement issued after the meeting says.