According to Serbian state television, such a union will ``strengthen brotherhood and cooperation between member-states, in the political, economic, social, military, scientific and culture areas.'' It will also help ``ensure the security and a high level of defence capacity of the member-states,'' the report added.

The official news agency, Tanjug, described the decision as ``historic''. It carried a text of the parliamentary decision stating that Yugoslavia ``accepts the aims and principles of the Union of Russia and Belarus and it accepts fully all the obligations under the agreement.''

The State Duma, the Communist-dominated lower house of the Russian parliament, has alreadypublicly backed the Yugoslav request. However, Yeltsin has welcomed the proposal guardedly, saying it needed further study.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also said today in a television interview that Yugoslavia's request to take part in the union would be studied.

Former president Mikhail Gorbachev welcomed the idea at a press conference here but said there was no need for it to happen right now. The idea should be thoroughly discussed and examined and possibly put to a referendum, he added.

Meanwhile, Russia is moving four ships of its mighty Black Sea fleet to the Adriatic to join its reconnaissance ship, Liman, the state-owned radio has reported.

Turkey has been informed of the movement of the warships to the Balkan war theatre as they have to pass through the Dardanelles Straits which are under Turkish control.

Some warships from Russia's North fleet will also sail for the Adriatic.

The move is intended only as a signal for NATO to observe restraint as the Kremlin hascategorically dismissed all speculation of Russia's involvement in the war, sources here say.

Meanwhile, the Russian media continues to paint a picture of the war over Kosovo that is radically different from what the West is trying to convey. It maintains that NATO forces have suffered considerable losses. According to the media, Yugoslavia has shot down 25 combat fighters, including the Stealth, five helicopters and innumerable cruise missiles.