31.   The first was held in late October in Havana, a State Department spokesman, Lee McClenny, said Wednesday.

32.   U.S. and Macedonian troops held the first of a series of joint-exercises in the country last week.

33.   Abdullah made the plea for greater autonomy his central election plank during state polls in September, the first to be held for nine years in the troubled state.

34.   Christopher held the first of two rounds of talks with Assad immediately on arriving from Israel.

35.   Christopher held the first of two rounds of talks with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after meeting earlier in Israel with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

36.   President Glafcos Clerides, a Greek Cypriot, and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash held the first of an open-ended series of planned thrice-weekly meetings.

37.   The first was held in Jakarta last November with leaders of Burma, Cambodia and Laos -- all applying to become ASEAN members -- coming as guests.

38.   The first was held last year at the behest of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee after a spate of attacks on Christian missionaries and churches.

39.   The first was held last year in Washington and the third is to be held next year, also in Washington.