Austria criticized the leadership of the European Union Gunter Ferkhoygen - for an overly soft, according to Vienna, the position on the issue of the Czech Republic entering the EU. Ferkhoigen, who oversees the issues of admitting new members to the European Union, recently said during a visit to Prague that decrees of the President of Czechoslovakia Edward Benesh would not be an obstacle to the Czech Republic in the EU.

Andrey Sharry: The leader of the Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky came to the Moscow Freedom Studio shortly after the next trip to the cities of Russia. Hello, Grigory Alekseevich. Tell me that you answer people who reproach Russian politicians and you, including inability to change life for the better? Grigory Yavlinsky: When you speak to people, people say: "Do you know what is our salary?" “I know,” I say. About 2,000 rubles.

On Saturday, the Moscow State Museum of Contemporary Art at the Helos auction in Moscow has acquired several paintings of the famous Russian artist Casimir Malevich. Among them - the "self -portrait", which was bought for 600 thousand dollars and the "portrait of the wife" - for 90 thousand. The President of the Russian Academy of Arts Zurab Tsereteli said that the museum is also ready to acquire the most famous painting by Malevich Black Square.

Former Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia Vlaiko, Strakovich, died last night in Belgrade from the consequences of the injury, which he inflicted himself when trying to suicide last Thursday. The costs shot himself in the head at the entrance to the building of the Parliament of Yugoslavia, which on that day adopted the law on the issuance of persons accused of war crimes to the Hague International Tribunal.

The winner of the annual London marathon was American Khalid Hannuchi. He exceeded his own record of 1999, running 42 kilometers and 195 meters in 2 hours 5 minutes and 38 seconds. In women, the British athlete Paul Radcliffe won. Its time was only 9 seconds more than the record set by Kenyka Katrina Nadraba last year. The second and third were finished by Russian runners Svetlana Zakharova and Lyudmila Petrova.

In the west of Nepal, a mass burial of police and military personnel of government troops was discovered, which, apparently, were shot by Maoist rebels. So far, more than a hundred bodies have been found, however, according to the Nepalian authorities, it is possible that in the same area there are other graves of executed - not only soldiers of the royal army, but also rebels. Last week, fierce battles were going on in the western part of Nepal.

Today, the first presidential election in the history of East Timor took place. According to an independent election commission, more than 86 percent of voters participated in them. The elections passed peacefully, without any incidents. East Timor is still under the control of the International Administration of the UN. In August 1999, the population of this former Portuguese colony voted for leaving Indonesia.

In the Penza region, the elections of the governor and deputies of the regional legislative assembly are held today. Six candidates apply for the post of head of the region, among which the main governor Vasily Bochkarev and State Duma deputy Viktor Ilyukhin are the main governor, according to public opinion polls. 200 people apply for 45 seats in the regional legislative assembly. The elections will be recognized as held if more than 25 percent of voters take part in them.

In the city of Ramallah, on the western coast of Jordan, a meeting of US Secretary of State Paulla, who is with a peacekeeping mission in the Middle East, with the head of the Palestinian Autonomy, Yasir Arafat, should take place today. This was announced by the US State Department. The meeting was originally scheduled for Saturday, but then deposited due to a terrorist attack on Friday in Jerusalem, whose victims were 6 people.

In the capital of Venezuela, Karakas, tens of thousands of supporters of the President Huga Chavez detached on Friday surrounded the Presidential Palace, demanding that Chavez voluntarily left his post. In clashes with the police, one demonstrator died, about 20 were injured. Some units of the Venezuelan army announced their support for the ex-president. Due to the new wave of riots, the temporary head of the country Pedro Carmon postponed his inauguration.

In Afghanistan, as a result of a shootout with units of international forces conducting an anti-terrorist operation, several militants of Al-Qaeda group were killed. This was announced today by the representative of the American command Brian Hilferti. According to him, several terrorists were captured. A small weapon warehouse is also captured. There are no losses among military personnel of the United States and its allies.

In the city of Ramallah on the western coast of Jordan, the meeting of US Secretary of State Colin Powell with the head of the Palestinian Autonomy Yasir Arafat continues. The meeting was originally scheduled for Saturday, but then deposited due to a terrorist attack on Friday in Jerusalem, whose victims were 6 people. Colin Powell said that he would meet Arafat only if the Palestinian leader will officially condemn terrorism.

The international community calls on the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who has returned to power, observe democratic principles and do everything to restore stability in the country. Advisor to the US President for National Security of Condoliza Rice expressed the hope that Chavez would try to correct "the mistakes made by him." The Government of Spain, which now presides in the European Union, said that Chavez should begin dialogue with opposition forces.

The daughter of the first president of Russia Boris Yeltsin Tatyana Dyachenko recently gave birth to a daughter Masha, the head of the protocol Yeltsin Vladimir Shevchenko said today. According to him, the newborn and her mother feel good. They are in the clinic in London, from where, most likely, they will be discharged in a few days. The girl’s father - Valentin Yumashev - in the 90s headed the Yeltsin administration. Masha is the fifth granddaughter of the ex -president of Russia.

Today, the first presidential elections in the history of East Timor are held. East Timor is still under the control of the International Administration of the UN. In August 1999, the population of this former Portuguese colony voted for leaving Indonesia. During the referendum, the pro-Indonesian armed groups made mass reprisals against local residents. Formally, the independence of East Timor will be proclaimed on May 20.