1.   First, it stipulates that the number of weapons in the so-called Visegrad nations that are candidates for early NATO membership cannot be increased.

2.   France, in particular, has been vocal in pushing for early NATO membership for Romania.

3.   The Republicans have called for Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to be offered early NATO membership.

4.   Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic are seen as the leading contenders for early membership.

5.   Both countries are observer members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and hope for early full membership as a means to hasten economic development.

6.   But Constantinescu acknowledged after talks with Czech President Vaclav Havel on Monday that early membership for his country is unlikely.

7.   But EU partners Denmark, Sweden and Finland favor early membership for the Baltic states, while Austria is lobbying for Slovenia.

8.   Bulgaria qualifies for early membership in NATO as an island of stability and security in the troubled Balkans, its president said Wednesday.

9.   But his hopes of early EU membership are overly optimistic.

10.   But their most contentious issue lately has been opposition to early membership for Burma.