PRAGUE - The Russian Prime Minister, Mr Viktor Chernomyrdin, has said a pact between Russia and NATO could be signed on May 27th, but that Moscow's opposition to the eastward expansion of the western alliance would not change. NATO officials earlier said a new round of talks between the NATO Secretary-General, Mr Javier Solana, and the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr Yevgeny Primakov, aimed at overcoming remaining Russian objections, had been set for May 6th in Luxembourg.
Mr Yeltsin said in Germany last week he hoped the NATO-Russia pact would be ready for signing in Paris on May 27th. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland are leading contenders to be invited to join NATO in a first wave of new members, expected to be announced at a July summit.
