31.   In Bonn Chirac gave assurances that the military programme will respect existing Franco-German commitments, presidential spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said.

32.   In Paris, presidential spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said the pilots were expected to return to France via Belgrade Tuesday evening.

33.   Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati was to pay a courtesy call on President Nelson Mandela Thursday, presidential spokeswoman Priscilla Naidoo said.

34.   A presidential spokeswoman said the luncheon coincided with the start of a holiday in southern France for the Majors.

35.   A top South Korean presidential official will go to North Korea next month in a bid to restore top level contacts, a presidential spokeswoman said Monday.

36.   But a presidential spokeswoman later said the announcement would be delayed until Sunday.

37.   Clinton was to be briefed following the meeting, presidential spokeswoman Mary-Ellen Glynn said.

38.   Earlier Samper met French President Jacques Chirac, who expressed support for his program to tackle the drug lords, according to a presidential spokeswoman.

39.   Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak telephoned his Israeli counterpart Ezer Weizman to air problems in relations between the two countries, a presidential spokeswoman in Jerusalem said Thursday.

40.   Earlier Monday presidential spokeswoman Catherine Colonna called for an immediate ceasefire in fighting between Zairean troops and Tutsi rebels.