1.   A survey of delegates shows that a majority believe their governments will ratify the charter by the end of the year.

2.   Primakov said the charter should be ratified by Congress and the Russian parliament, giving it a firmer legal foundation.

3.   Angola, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa and Swaziland have not yet ratified the charter.

4.   UN chief Kofi Annan opened a conference of signatories of the international treaty banning chemical arms with an appeal for more countries to ratify the charter.

5.   Once both countries ratify the charter, MEMTTA will be registered in France as a non-governmental organisation, Zayyat said.

6.   Rodger Chongwe of Zambia said attempts to have these countries ratify the charter as promised had failed.

7.   The new congress will have its work cut out with Ramos calling a special session to ratify the charter just two weeks after the polls.