1.   Former Gov. Ann Richards gets well-deserved credit for nurturing political ties to officials in Mexico during her tenure.

2.   He was praised Thursday as a savvy leader who would nurture political ties with the Communists and pro-market forces while leaving the nitty-gritty of economic policy to others.

3.   Seeking to nurture those ties, Gates will dine tomorrow night with the top people in the Taiwan computer industry, including Acer Chairman Stan Shih, executives said.

4.   Some prisons, like Bedford Hills and Taconic, help women nurture ties with their children by providing free bus rides and allowing overnight visits and summer weeklong stays.

5.   He noted in particular that ties had been nurtured by meetings every six months between China and the EU, which set aside time to discuss human rights.

6.   The island nurtures ties with its allies through trade, aid and investment.

7.   With Republican leaders demanding a harder line against Russia, President Clinton pledged Sunday to nurture ties with Moscow despite its plans to sell nuclear goods to Iran.

8.   With Republican leaders demanding a hard line against Russia, President Clinton pledged Sunday to nurture ties with Moscow despite its plans to sell nuclear goods to Iran.

9.   With Republican leaders demanding a harder line against Russia, President Clinton has pledged to nurture ties with Moscow despite its plans to sell nuclear goods to Iran.

10.   During the Cold War, India was perceived as a Soviet client, and rival communist power China had a vital interest in nurturing friendly ties with Pakistan.