1.   The Russian parliament has ratified the convention on protecting the Black Sea from pollution.

2.   Clinton and Yeltsin also agreed to begin talks on a new arms-reduction treaty, START III, if the Russian parliament ratifies START II is ratified.

3.   EGYPT Although the Egyptian parliament has ratified international accords guaranteeing freedom of religion, converts from Islam to Christianity suffer arrest, torture and social ostracism.

4.   Foreign assistance is likely to come more easily now that the Russian parliament has ratified the convention.

5.   He added that he hoped the parliament would formally ratify Kostunica as quickly as possible.

6.   Lukashenko and Russian President Boris Yeltsin said they expect their parliaments to ratify the so-called Union Treaty immediately.

7.   Parliament must ratify any deployment of German troops outside Germany.

8.   The Russian parliament ratified Start II last year, though with conditions that many Republicans in Congress say they oppose.

9.   Unless the Russian parliament ratifies START II, however, the follow-up treaty cannot progress.

10.   Parliament has ratified the European human rights convention, but passed over a protocol that would abolish the death penalty, a report said Friday.