101.   Unlike other former Soviet bloc countries, East Germany was absorbed into the West virtually overnight.

102.   Up to a dozen European nations, mostly from the former Communist bloc, have applied to join.

103.   Western Europe also thinks of itself as a gateway to the countries of the former Soviet bloc.

104.   West European companies are increasingly heading east to take advantage of cheap labor in the former Soviet bloc.

105.   What they uncovered was an alarming lack of control over small arms stockpiles in the former Soviet bloc and the brazenness of arms traffickers who control the business.

106.   Young blondes from the former Eastern bloc are now the hottest commodities on the market.

107.   Perry said he believes Poland will be one of the first countries added to the Western alliance, a status sought by several former Soviet bloc countries.

108.   Opponents of the move are worried that expanding NATO to include the three former Soviet bloc countries might offend Russia and put paid to further arms reductions.

109.   Opponents, led by the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, contend Bartholomew has given the Vatican a free hand in expanding into the former East bloc.

110.   Organized crime groups that formed in the former Soviet bloc after the collapse of communism have been spreading west for years, with Germany on the front line.