81.   Ciller said she sent a message to her Russian counterpart Victor Chernomyrdin assuring him Turkey would do its utmost to secure the release of the hostages.

82.   Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman planned to meet with his Russian counterpart, Yevgeny Primakov, to sign trade and cooperation agreements, a government spokesman said.

83.   Defense Minister Geoffrey Hoon will hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Ivanov, before returning to London on Tuesday.

84.   Defense Minister Geoff Hoon, in Moscow for a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov, was absent.

85.   Defense Secretary William Cohen and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced they plan to meet their Russian counterparts in Helsinki, Finland to discuss continuing differences over Kosovo.

86.   Dini also met on Tuesday with his Russian counterpart, Yevgeny Primakov.

87.   Dini and his Russian counterpart Yevgeny Primakov both expressed increased concern over the situation in the former Yugoslavia and the Middle East, according to Interfax.

88.   Defense Secretary William Cohen also is expected to discuss the issue with his Russian counterpart on a trip to Moscow next Monday and Tuesday.

89.   Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok met his Russian counterpart Viktor Chernomyrdin on Monday for talks expected to focus on economic ties and European security.

90.   During a meeting with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov the two also discussed boosting Israeli-Russian trade and political relations.