MOSCOW. Sept 10: Russian President Boris Yeltsin's chief spokesman predicted today that the former Soviet republics would eventually unite both po lltlcally and economically, says Reuter.

In comments likely to rile some of Russia's neighbours. Vyacheslav Kostikov also said that Yeltsin, under pressure from conservative opponents to submit to early elections, would serve out his presidential term until 1996.

But It was his remarks on relations with the former republics that appeared likely to raise political hackles.

"Only flaming nationalists ... fall to see today that tn the wake of economic union ... political union will logically and inevitably follow." he wrote In the dally Komsomolskaya Pravda.

This Is a question of time.

But to deny this imperative means not to see or feel either history or the real aspirations of milltons of ordinary citizens."

Although two years have passed since the Soviet Union collapsed, many Russians find It hard to think of the Independent states as foreign countries.

They often refer to the former republics as the "near abroad", a regton in which Moscow still feels It has a historic role and a legitimate sphere of Interests.

Kostikov, tn an ironic reference to the growing dependence of these neighbours on Russia, noted that Moscow had lately seen a "veritable parade" of visiting leaders.

"We even realised, not without surprise, that the path to Moscow from the capitals of former union republics Is not so overgrown after all," he wrote.

"All that's needed is to uproot a few prickly nationalist

weeds and the road will be clear for a "new deal" that will define the geopolitical contours and strategic parameters of a new commonwealth."

In recent months, economic and political necessity has forced a number of commonwealth states to reconcile themselves with giving up some elements of sovereignty in exchange for support from Moscow.

Russia and five other former republics signed a deal on Tuesday to keep the Russian rouble as their common currency. The five will hive to adjust their customs, tai. banking and credit policies to standards set by Moscow.

An agreement on broad cooperation within an economic union Is due to be signed at a CIS summit in Moscow on September 24.